Comp Basics

Computer Basics
Student Edition
Complete
University of Salford
2003 by CustomGuide, Inc. 1502 Nicollet Avenue South, Suite 1; Minneapolis, MN 55403
This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by CustomGuide, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
CustomGuide, Inc.
We make a sincere effort to ensure the accuracy of the material described herein; however, CustomGuide makes no warranty,
expressed or implied, with respect to the quality, correctness, reliability, accuracy, or freedom from error of this document or the
products it describes. Data used in examples and sample data files are intended to be fictional. Any resemblance to real
persons or companies is entirely coincidental.
The names of software products referred to in this manual are claimed as trademarks of their respective companies.
CustomGuide is a registered trademark of CustomGuide, Inc.
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter One: The Essentials ............................................................................................ 11
Lesson 1-1: Hardware, Software, and Information Technology (IT) ................................... 12
Lesson 1-2: Computer Overview ......................................................................................... 14
Lesson 1-3: The Front of a Computer and Peripheral Devices ............................................ 16
Lesson 1-4: The Inside of a Computer ................................................................................. 18
Lesson 1-5: The Back of a Computer (Ports) ...................................................................... 20
Lesson 1-6: System Bus and Expansion Cards .................................................................... 22
Lesson 1-7: Memory Cache ................................................................................................. 24
Lesson 1-8: Computer Performance .................................................................................... 26
Lesson 1-9: Buying a Desktop Computer ............................................................................ 28
Lesson 1-10: Buying a Notebook Computer ....................................................................... 30
Lesson 1-11: Upgrading a Computer ................................................................................... 32
Chapter One Review ............................................................................................................ 34
Chapter Two: Understanding Hardware ........................................................................ 37
Lesson 2-1: Central Processing Unit (CPU) ........................................................................ 38
Lesson 2-2: Memory ............................................................................................................ 40
Lesson 2-3: RAM and ROM ................................................................................................ 42
Lesson 2-4: Mouse............................................................................................................... 44
Lesson 2-5: Keyboard .......................................................................................................... 46
Lesson 2-6: Digital Cameras and Web Cams ....................................................................... 48
Lesson 2-7: Other Input Devices ......................................................................................... 50
Lesson 2-8: Monitor ............................................................................................................ 52
Lesson 2-9: Graphics Card .................................................................................................. 54
Lesson 2-10: Printer Basics ................................................................................................. 56
Lesson 2-11: Types of Printers ............................................................................................. 58
Lesson 2-12: Sound and Speakers ....................................................................................... 60
Lesson 2-13: Modem ........................................................................................................... 62
Lesson 2-14: Input/Output Devices ..................................................................................... 63
Lesson 2-15: Hard Drive ..................................................................................................... 64
Lesson 2-16: Hard Drive Maintenance ................................................................................ 66
Lesson 2-17: CD-ROM Drive ............................................................................................. 68
Lesson 2-18: DVD Drive ..................................................................................................... 70
Lesson 2-19: Floppy Drive .................................................................................................. 72
Lesson 2-20: Zip and Jaz Drives.......................................................................................... 73
Lesson 2-21: Other Storage Devices .................................................................................... 74
Lesson 2-22: Formatting a Disk .......................................................................................... 75
Chapter Two Review ........................................................................................................... 76
Chapter Three: Understanding Software ...................................................................... 81
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-1: Understanding Graphical User Interfaces ......................................................... 82
Lesson 3-2: Types of Software ............................................................................................. 83
Lesson 3-3: Operating Systems............................................................................................ 84
Lesson 3-4: Word Processing ............................................................................................... 86
Lesson 3-5: Spreadsheets ..................................................................................................... 87
Lesson 3-6: Databases.......................................................................................................... 88
Lesson 3-7: Presentation Software ....................................................................................... 90
Lesson 3-8: Accounting ....................................................................................................... 91
Lesson 3-9: Web Browsing .................................................................................................. 92
Lesson 3-10: Web Authoring ............................................................................................... 93
Lesson 3-11: Programming Languages ................................................................................ 94
Lesson 3-12: Systems Development .................................................................................... 96
Chapter Three Review ......................................................................................................... 98
Chapter Four: Information Networks .......................................................................... 103
Lesson 4-1: Introduction to Networks................................................................................ 104
Lesson 4-2: The Internet .................................................................................................... 106
Lesson 4-3: Intranets and Extranets ................................................................................... 108
Lesson 4-4: Telephones and Networks ............................................................................... 110
Chapter Four Review ......................................................................................................... 112
Chapter Five: Introduction to Windows XP .................................................................117
Lesson 5-1: Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Home............................................ 118
Lesson 5-2: Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Professional .................................. 119
Lesson 5-3: Understanding the Windows XP Screen ......................................................... 120
Lesson 5-4: A Look at the New Windows XP Start Menu ................................................. 122
Lesson 5-5: Using the Mouse: Pointing, Clicking and Double-clicking ............................ 124
Lesson 5-6: Using the Mouse: Clicking and Dragging ...................................................... 126
Lesson 5-7: Using the Mouse: Right-clicking.................................................................... 128
Lesson 5-8: Using the Keyboard ........................................................................................ 130
Lesson 5-9: Exiting Windows and Turning Off Your Computer ........................................ 132
Chapter Five Review.......................................................................................................... 134
Chapter Six: Working with a Window .......................................................................... 137
Lesson 6-1: Starting a Program .......................................................................................... 138
Lesson 6-2: Understanding the Parts of a Window ............................................................ 140
Lesson 6-3: Minimizing, Maximizing, and Restoring a Window ...................................... 142
Lesson 6-4: Closing a Window .......................................................................................... 144
Lesson 6-5: Moving a Window .......................................................................................... 145
Lesson 6-6: Sizing a Window ............................................................................................ 146
Lesson 6-7: Switching Between Windows ......................................................................... 148
Chapter Six Review ........................................................................................................... 150
Chapter Seven: Working with Programs ...................................................................... 153
Lesson 7-1: Using Menus .................................................................................................. 154
Lesson 7-2: Using Toolbars ............................................................................................... 156
Lesson 7-3: Filling Out a Dialog Box ................................................................................ 158
Lesson 7-4: Entering Text in the WordPad Program .......................................................... 160
Lesson 7-5: Editing Text .................................................................................................... 162
Lesson 7-6: Saving and Opening a File ............................................................................. 164
Lesson 7-7: Selecting, Replacing, and Deleting Text ......................................................... 166
Lesson 7-8: Using Undo .................................................................................................... 168
Lesson 7-9: Printing a File ................................................................................................. 169
Lesson 7-10: Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text ............................................................... 170
Lesson 7-11: Changing the Font Type and Size ................................................................. 172
Lesson 7-12: Using Bold, Italics and Underline ................................................................ 174
Lesson 7-13: Changing Paragraph Alignment ................................................................... 175
2003 CustomGuide, Inc.
Introduction
Lesson 7-14: Getting Help by Contents ............................................................................. 176

Lesson 7-15: Getting Help with the Help Index and Search .............................................. 178
Lesson 7-16: Saving and Opening Files in Different Locations ........................................ 180
Chapter Seven Review ....................................................................................................... 182
Chapter Eight: Working with Files and Folders ......................................................... 191
Lesson 8-1: Understanding Storage Devices, Folders and Files ........................................ 192
Lesson 8-2: Using My Computer to See Whats in Your Computer .................................. 194
Lesson 8-3: Opening a Folder ............................................................................................ 196
Lesson 8-4: Creating and Renaming a Folder .................................................................... 198
Lesson 8-5: Copying, Moving and Deleting a Folder ........................................................ 200
Lesson 8-6: Opening, Renaming and Deleting a File ........................................................ 202
Lesson 8-7: Copying and Moving a File ........................................................................... 204
Lesson 8-8: Restoring a Deleted File and Emptying the Recycle Bin ............................... 206
Lesson 8-9: A Closer Look at Files and Folders ................................................................ 208
Lesson 8-10: Changing How Information is Displayed ..................................................... 210
Lesson 8-11: Selecting Multiple Files and Folders ............................................................ 212
Lesson 8-12: Finding a File Using the Search Companion................................................ 214
Lesson 8-13: Managing the Search Companion ................................................................ 216
Lesson 8-14: Using Windows Explorer ............................................................................. 218
Lesson 8-15: File Management Using Windows Explorer ................................................ 220
Lesson 8-16: Using MS-DOS ............................................................................................ 222
Lesson 8-17: Creating and Using a Compressed Folder .................................................... 224
Chapter Eight Review ........................................................................................................ 226
Chapter Nine: Exploring the Internet .........................................................................235
Lesson 9-1: Introduction to the Internet............................................................................. 236
Lesson 9-2: Connecting to the Internet .............................................................................. 238
Lesson 9-3: Displaying a Specific Web Page .................................................................... 240
Lesson 9-4: Browsing the Web .......................................................................................... 242
Lesson 9-5: Searching the Web.......................................................................................... 244
Lesson 9-6: Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing Your Home Page ................. 246
Lesson 9-7: Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages.................................................... 248
Lesson 9-8: Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages .................................................... 249
Lesson 9-9: Downloading Pictures and Files ..................................................................... 250
Lesson 9-10: Understanding the Information Bar.............................................................. 252
Lesson 9-11: Using the Pop-up Blocker ............................................................................ 253
Lesson 9-12: Understanding Information Security ............................................................ 254
Lesson 9-13: Understanding Windows Firewall ................................................................ 255
Lesson 9-14: Introduction to E-mail .................................................................................. 256
Lesson 9-15: Composing and Sending E-mail................................................................... 258
Lesson 9-16: Adding a Name to the Address Book ........................................................... 260
Lesson 9-17: Receiving E-mail.......................................................................................... 262
Lesson 9-18: Replying to a Message ................................................................................. 264
Lesson 9-19: Forwarding and Deleting a Message ............................................................ 265
Chapter Nine Review ......................................................................................................... 266
Index ...................................................................................................................................274
Introduction
Welcome to CustomGuide: Computer Basics. CustomGuide courseware allows instructors to
create and print manuals that contain the specific lessons that best meet their students needs.
In other words, this book was designed and printed just for you.
Unlike most other computer-training courseware, each CustomGuide manual is uniquely
designed to be three books in one:
Step-by-step instructions make this manual great for use in an instructor-led class or as a
self-paced tutorial.
Detailed descriptions, illustrated diagrams, informative tables, and an index make this
manual suitable as a reference guide when you want to learn more about a topic or
process.
The handy Quick Reference box, found on the last page of each lesson, is great for when
you need to know how to do something quickly.
CustomGuide manuals are designed both for users who want to learn the basics of the
software and those who want to learn more advanced features.
Heres how a CustomGuide manual is organized:
Chapters
Each manual is divided into several chapters. Arent sure if youre ready for a chapter? Look
at the prerequisites that appear at the beginning of each chapter. They will tell you what you
should know before you start the chapter.
Lessons
Each chapter contains several lessons on related topics. Each lesson explains a new skill or
topic and contains a step-by-step exercise to give you hands-on-experience.
Chapter Reviews
A review is included at the end of each chapter to help you absorb and retain all that you have
learned. This review contains a brief recap of everything covered in the chapters lessons, a
quiz to assess how much youve learned (and which lessons you might want to look over
again), and a homework assignment where you can put your new skills into practice. If youre
having problems with a homework exercise, you can always refer back to the lessons in the
chapter to get help.
Computer Basics
How to Use the Lessons

Every topic is presented on two facing pages, so that you can concentrate on the lesson
without having to worry about turning the page. Since this is a hands-on course, each lesson
contains an exercise with step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
To make learning easier, every exercise follows certain conventions:
Anything youre supposed to click, drag, or press appears like this.
Anything youre supposed to type appears like this.
This book never assumes you know where (or what) something is. The first time youre
told to click something, a picture of what youre supposed to click appears either in the
margin next to the step or in the illustrations at the beginning of the lesson.
Illustrations show what your

screen should look like as you
follow the lesson. They also
describe controls, dialog boxes,
and processes.
24
24
Microsoft Excel 2000

Microsoft Excel 2000
Lesson
Lesson4-2:
4-2:Formatting
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Values
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Tips and traps appear in the

margin.
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range.
range.
Introduction
When you see a keyboard instruction like press <Ctrl> + , you should press and
hold the first key (<Ctrl> in this example) while you press the second key ( in this
example). Then, after youve pressed both keys, you can release them.
There is usually more than one way to do something in Word. The exercise explains the
most common method of doing something, while the alternate methods appear in the
margin. Use whatever approach feels most comfortable for you.
Important terms appear in italics the first time theyre presented.
Whenever something is especially difficult or can easily go wrong, youll see a:

NOTE:
immediately after the step, warning you of pitfalls that you could encounter if youre not
careful.
Our exclusive Quick Reference box appears at the end of every lesson. You can use it to
review the skills youve learned in the lesson and as a handy referencewhen you need
to know how to do something fast and dont need to step through the sample exercises.
Formatting a Worksheet
Formatting a Worksheet
25
25
2. Click cell A4 and type Annual Sales.

2. Click
cell A4inand
type Annual
Sales. as currency.
The numbers
this column
should be formatted
Anything you need to type

appears like this.
The numbers in this column should be formatted as currency.
3. Press <Enter> to confirm your entry and overwrite the existing

3. Press
<Enter> to confirm your entry and overwrite the existing
information.
information.
4. Select the cell range G5:G17 and click the Currency Style button on
4. Select
the cell range
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the Formatting
toolbar.
theA Formatting
dollar sign and toolbar.
two decimal places are added to the values in the selected cell range.
A dollar sign and two decimal places are added to the values in the selected cell range.
5. Select the cell range F5:F17 and click the Percent Style button on
5. Select
the cell range
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the Formatting
toolbar.
theExcel
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applies percentage style number formatting to the information in the Tax column.
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you enter
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before you enter a number.
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range still toolbar.
selected, click the Increase Decimal
button
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presented in the margin.
button
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following
table
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the five buttons
on the
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you it
can
use to
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valuesnot
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was number
it? The
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your worksheets.
following
tabletolists
the fiveinbuttons
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formatting to the values in your worksheets.
Table 4-2: Number Formatting Buttons on the Formatting Toolbar

Table
4-2:
Number Formatting
on the Formatting Toolbar
Button
Name
Example Buttons
Formatting
Button Name
Example
$1,000.00 Formatting
Adds a dollar sign, comma, and two decimal places.
Currency
$1,000.00 Adds a dollar sign, comma, and two decimal places.
Currency
100%
Displays the value as a percentage with no decimal places.
Percent
100%
Displays the value as a percentage with no decimal places.
Percent
1,000
Separates thousands with a comma.
Comma
1,000
Separates thousands with a comma.
Comma
1000.00
Increases the number of digits after the decimal point by one
Increase Decimal
1000.00
Increases the number of digits after the decimal point by one
Increase Decimal
1000.0
Decreases the number of digits after the decimal point by one
Decrease Decimal
1000.0
Decreases the number of digits after the decimal point by one
Decrease Decimal
Quick Reference
Quick Reference
To Apply Number
To Formatting:
Apply Number
Formatting:
Select the cell or cell range
youthe
want
and click
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celltoorformat
cell range
appropriate
number
you the
want
to format and
click
the formatting
appropriatebutton(s)
number on the
Formatting
toolbar.
formatting
button(s)
on the
Formatting
toolbar.
Or...
Or... Select the cell or cell range you

want
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select
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thetocell
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from
the menu,
wanttoCells
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select
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you want
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Number
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menu,
the Number
tab,
want to apply.
andformatting
specify theyou
number
formatting you want to apply.
Tables provide summaries of the

terms, toolbar buttons, or
shortcuts covered in the lesson.
CustomGuides exclusive Quick

Reference is great for when you
need to know how to do
something fast. It also lets you
review what youve learned in
the lesson.
Chapter One: The

Essentials
Chapter Objectives:
Learn the difference between hardware and software
Discover the various types of computers and their roles
See whats on the front, back, and inside of a computer
Learn about the various ports on a computer
Understand what determines a computers performance
See what you should look for when buying a computer
Computers are useful: they help us write letters, find information on the Internet, and even
create our own music CDs. Some people love computersthey speak a different language
that includes nonsensical words like IP address and gigabytes. But most of us are somewhat
clueless when it comes to computers. We know how to turn our computer on, how to surf the
Internet (maybe), and how to write a quick letter on a word processor. But thats about itwe
have to ask our kids or friends for help when something goes wrong, which is all the time.
This guide takes some of the mystery out of computers. In this chapter well take a good hard
look at a computer from the front, back, and yes, even inside. Youll understand what all those
confusing ports on the back of the computer are for and why its important for your computer
to have a fast CPU. Best of all, well explain all of this in simple terms, so you wont need an
engineering degree to understand everything.
Ready to tackle your computer? Greatturn the page and lets get started
Prerequisites
A desire to learn about
computers.
12
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-1: Hardware, Software,

and Information Technology (IT)
Figure 1-1
A typical computer setup
Figure 1-2
Microsoft Word is an
example of a software
application.
Figure 1-1
Figure 1-2
Your desk probably contains a jumble of equipment commonly known as a computer. But
what is all that stuff? What does a computer do? Unlike many other tools or appliances that
have limited purposes, a computer can do any number of things:
Write letters
Browse the Internet
Send e-mail messages to people around the world
Play games
Help you balance your budget
and thats just the beginning of what you can do with a computer!
2003 CustomGuide Inc.
Chapter One: The Essentials

Two basic components make up a computer: hardware and software. You simply cant have
one without the other. All computer parts that you can physically see or touch are called
hardware. Hardware includes the computers monitor, case, keyboard, mouse, and printer.
Computer programs that tell hardware how to operate are called software. You may have
used software such as Microsoft Excel or Corel WordPerfect in the past. So breathe a giant
sigh of reliefyou dont have to know how to program a computer to use one. A computer
programmer has already done the work for you by writing the program (software). All you
have to do is tell the software what youre trying to do, and the software then directs the
work of the hardware.
Figure 1-1 shows an example of a typical computer setup and its components, but dont
worry if your setup is different. More than likely, you have all the parts that you need, and
those parts are properly connected. In any case, Table 1-1: Parts of a Computer, provides
more details about each individual component.
IT, short for Information Technology, is the broad subject related to computers and
managing and processing information, especially within large organizations. Many large
companies have departments full of computer experts called IT departments.
13
Your computer setup

may differ from the
one shown in Figure
1-1. For example, you
might have a computer
case that is tall and
skinny (tower case) or
a flat screen monitor.
Table 1-1: Parts of a Computer

Component
Description
Case or System
Unit
The main computer box, technically known as the system unit, is the most
important part of a computer. It contains the guts and brains of the computer
something well talk about later. The system unit contains a lot of holes or ports
where you plug in the rest of the computer system.
Monitor
The monitor resembles a television set, and is where the computer displays
information.
Keyboard
The keyboard is the thing you type on to tell your computer what to do.
Mouse
Like the keyboard, the mouse is another input device that you use to
communicate with your computer.
Speakers
Most computers can make sounds, just like a stereo system. In fact, you can
even listen to audio CDs on most computers or watch DVDs.
Monitor
Printer
A printer is where a computer writes down information or output, onto paper, or

a hardcopy.
Mouse
Quick Reference
A typical computer
includes the following:
System unit
Keyboard
Speakers
Printer
Hardware:
A computer item you can
physically see or touch.
Software:
A computer program that
tells computer hardware
how to operate.
IT:
Information Technology is
the broad subject related
to computers and
managing and processing
information.
14
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-2: Computer Overview

Figure 1-3
How a computer works.
Figure 1-4
Comparing a TV to a PC.
Input
You communicate with the
computer via an input device
such as a mouse, a keyboard,
or a joystick.
Process/Storage
The computer processes data,
makes calculations, directs
the work of the hardware, and
stores your files.
Output
The computer communicates
its results to you via an output
device such as a monitor, a
printer, or speakers.
Figure 1-3
Input
The remote control talks to the TV;
the mouse and the keyboard talk to
the computer.
Process/Storage
The cable box deciphers which
channel you want to watch; the
CPU translates your instructions
(via software) to the hardware.
Figure 1-4
Output
The television displays the
channel; the monitor displays the
results.
Computers are not really as complicated as they initially seem. You just have to learn the
basic functions of the various parts, and then you can separate them into three categories:
Input
Any device that lets you talk to the computer (such as a mouse or keyboard).
Process/Storage
Main functions of a computer, which happen inside the computer case. Not surprisingly,
the Central Processing Unit (CPU) does all the processing; the storage function is
handled by any number of drives (hard, floppy, Zip, tape-backup, CD/DVD-ROM) or
disks (compact discs or floppy diskettes).
Output
Any device that lets the computer talk to you (such as a monitor or speakers).
If you're having trouble understanding this input/output stuff, think of your home television
(TV) set. Televisions and computers are similar in several ways:
A remote control
communicates with a
television much like a
mouse communicates
with a computer.
The remote control is comparable to the mouse (or any other input device such as a
mouse or joystick).
The cable box (while not nearly as powerful as a computer) is similar to a computer in
that it can process information (such as deciphering which channel you want to watch)
and, if programmable, store information (such as when to show the film using a built-in
timer).
The TV displays the channel much like a monitor displays information.
15
There are several different types of computer systems out there. Here's a very brief description
of the most common ones
Table 1-2: Types of Computers
Computer
Description
A mainframe is a big, powerful, expensive computer that can support many users at
the same time. Large businesses and organizations use mainframes.
Mainframe
Capacity: Enormous - the capacity of several hundred or even thousands of PCs

Speed: Very fast - much, much faster than a PC
Cost: Very, very expensive - can usually only be afforded by large organizations
Users: Only used by large businesses and organizations
A PC is a personal computer, originally designed by IBM way back in 1981. Many
different companies make PCs, but all of them are IBM-compatible. What this
means, according to Bill Gates, is that they will all run Microsoft Windows.
PC
Capacity: Average hard disk size is 20 GB to 80 GB

Speed: Fast. Average speed is from 1 GHz to 3 GHz
Cost: Fairly inexpensive - under $1,000 - and getting cheaper every day!
Users: Just about everyone uses a PC! Homes, offices, schools
Developed by Apple, a Macintosh is a computer, but it is NOT a PC. Macs have a
different operating system and use their own software and hardware.
Mac

Speed: Fast. Average speed is from 500 MHz to 2 GHz
Cost: Fairly inexpensive, but usually more than an equivalent PC
Users: Just about everyone, especially in the education and design fields
A network is a group of computers that are connected so that they can share
equipment and information. Most people on a network use workstations, which are
simply PCs that are connected to the network. A server is a central computer where
users on the network can save their files and information.
Networked
Computer
Capacity: (Workstation) Same as a PC, only needs an inexpensive network card

(Server) Greater than a PC, often more than 100 GE
Speed: (Workstation) Same as a PC
(Server) Generally faster than a PC, may use multiple CPUs
Cost: (Workstation) Same as a PC
(Server) More expensive than a PC but not as costly as a mainframe
Users: (Workstation) People in a networked office or organization
(Server) Generally a network administrator or engineer
A laptop, or notebook, is a lighter and more portable version of a PC or Mac that
can run on batteries.
Laptop
Palmtop/PDA

Speed: Fast, but slightly less than a PC. Average speed is from 700 MHz to 2 GHz
Cost: Fairly inexpensive, but more than an equivalent PC
Users: People on the move, especially business people and students
A PDA (Personal Data Assistant) is a handheld computer that is generally used to
keep track of appointments and addresses.
Capacity: Much smaller than a PC - 8 MB to 64 MB of storage space
Speed: Much slower than a PC - 8 MHz to 266 MHz
Cost: Expensive when compared to the capacities of a PC
Users: Business people and others who need to be organized
Quick Reference
The Basic Computer
Processes Are:
1. Input
2. Processing
3. Output
Different Types of
Computers Include:
Mainframes
PCs
Macs
Servers
Laptops
Palmtops or PDAs
16
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-3: The Front of a

Computer and Peripheral Devices
Figure 1-5
The front of a computer
case.
Scanner
Monitor
Printer
Speakers
System unit
CD-ROM or
DVD player
Floppy drive
Keyboard
Mouse
Figure 1-5
The system unit or computer case is that plastic box that sits under your monitor or desk and
is covered with slots, buttons, and lights. Computer cases come in several shapes and sizes.
Older computers often have the horizontal desktop case, which has gradually been replaced
by the vertical tower case. Manufacturers are now phasing out the tallest towers because the
compact size of the smallest tower, known as a mini-tower, is attractive to consumers.
Everything outside of and connected to the system unit is called peripherals. You can add
dozens of peripherals and accessories to make it more useful and fun. Common peripherals
include printers, scanners, external hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and digital cameras. Many
peripherals are considered to be input devices, because they allow you to talk to your
computer by inputting information. Other peripherals are output devices, because they let your
computer talk back to you. One more thing: all peripherals are considered to be part of a
computers hardware.
Table 1-3: Whats on the Front or Outside of a Computer Case?
Item
Description
System Unit or
Computer Case
A plastic or metal case with slots, buttons, and lights in the front and holes
in the back. This is the most important part of a computer because it
contains the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The system unit directs the
computer, performs calculations, and stores information.
Floppy Drive
Reads and writes to 3-inch floppy disks. A floppy disk can store about
1.5 MB of informationabout as much as a novel.
Description
Hard Drive
(Not shown)
The computers main, long-term storing device. Unlike floppy disks and
CD-ROMs, you typically cannot remove a hard disk.
CD-ROM or DVD Drive
CD-ROMs and DVDs for your computer can store lots of information and
look exactly like CDs for your stereo and DVDs for your home DVD
player. In fact, you can listen to audio CDs on a CD-ROM drive and even
watch DVD movies on a DVD drive.
The only real difference between a CD-ROM and a DVD is how much
information they can store. A CD-ROM can store at least 700 MB
(megabytes) of information, while a DVD can store much moreup to
4.7 GB (gigabytes) or 9.4 GB on a dual-layer DVD.
Most CD-ROMs and DVD are read-only, meaning you cant write
information to them. You can buy special CD-ROM and DVD drives that
can write or burn information to special CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVDRW discs.
Zip Drive
(Not shown)
A special type of disk drive that can read and write to Zip disks. A Zip disk
is a lot like a floppy disk, although they are faster and can store more
informationfrom 100 to 250MB (megabytes).
Tape Backup
(Not shown)
A device that you can use to store backups, or copies, of the information
on a computers hard drive.
Output Devices
Input Devices
Item
Keyboard
The keyboard is the thing you type on to tell your computer what to do.
Mouse
Like the keyboard, the mouse is another input device that you use to
communicate with your computer.
Scanner
Scanners work like photocopiers, except the image is translated into a

digital image in your computer rather than copied onto paper.
Monitor
The monitor resembles a television set, and is where the computer

displays information.
Speakers
If visible, your computer speakers are similar to those on a stereo system

(or at least a cheap stereo system). They allow your computer to play
sounds.
Printer
A printer is where a computer writes down information or output, onto

paper, or a hardcopy.
17
Quick Reference
Components Visible from
the Outside of the System
Unit May Include:
Floppy drive
CD-ROM or DVD drive
Zip drive or tape backup
Keyboard
Mouse
Scanner
Monitor
Speakers
Printer
18
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-4: The Inside of a

Computer
Figure 1-6
Power supply
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
ROM-BIOS
The side view of the guts

of a tower case
CD-ROM or
DVD-ROM drive
Floppy disk
drive
Ports
Hard disk drive

(HDD)
Expansion
cards
Expansion
slots
Motherboard
Figure 1-6
Random-access memory (RAM)
Now that you know whats on the outside, lets crank open that mysterious computer case and
look inside. But no tools requiredweve done all the work for you. Just compare Figure 1-6
with Table 1-4: Whats Inside a Computer Case? to see whats important.
Everything plugs into a
computers
motherboard.
Table 1-4: Whats Inside a Computer Case?
Item
Description
Motherboard
The main piece of circuitry in a computer. Everything connects to or is wired

to the motherboard.
Central Processing
Unit (CPU)
The computers brain or heart, the CPU is a computers main chip. The CPU
is really nothing more than an incredibly fast and powerful calculator.
Random Access
Memory (RAM)
A computers temporary storage place, where it gets its work done. For
example, when you use a word processor to type a letter, the letter is stored
in the computers memory.
ROM-BIOS
A computers ROM-BIOS (stands for Read Only Memory Basic

Input/Output System) is a special chip with instructions for the computer to
communicate with other hardware parts.
Expansion Slot
An expansion slot lets you add more features and capabilities to a computer
by plugging in expansion cards.
Item
Description
Expansion Card
A card that allows you to expand your computers capabilities, such as a

modem card, a network card, a video card, or a sound card.
PCMCIA Cards
Notebook computers are too small to use expansion cards, so they use
special credit-card sized PCMCIA cards instead. You plug in a PCMCIA card,
or PC Card, into a notebook computer to give it more features and
capabilities. Nobodys getting tested on this, but PCMCIA stands for Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association.
19
Quick Reference
Components Inside the
System Unit May Include:
Motherboard
CPU (Central Processing
Unit)
RAM (Random Access
Memory)
ROM-BIOS
Expansion slots and
cards
PCMCIA cards (laptops
only)
20
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-5: The Back of a

Computer (Ports)
Figure 1-7
The back of a computer
case.
On/Off switch
Power receptacle
Keyboard port
USB ports
Mouse port
Ethernet connector
Serial port (COM1)

Parallel port (printer)
Serial port (COM2)
Air vents
Line-out jack (speakers/headphone)
Line-in jack
Microphone jack
Joystick port
Phone jack
Wall jack
Video (monitor)
Expansion spaces
Figure 1-7
When you look at the back of a computer, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by all the slots and
holes. Fortunately, manufacturers have added some fairly standard icons and color coding to
help you identify what should be plugged into your computer and where. Before long, youll
recognize those icons and colors, and the configuration wont seem so mysterious. Its rather
like hooking up cable and a DVD player to the back of your televisionunless youre one of
those people who just wait for the cable guy to take care of that heinous task. In any case, this
lesson will review each item piece by piece so you wont get completely lost.
You may feel a bit
overwhelmed the first
time you look at the
back of a computer.
Before we begin, lets define a couple of terms. The first thing youll notice is that the back of
your computer has lots of holes. Those holes are called (depending on who you ask) jacks,
ports, or connectors. You may notice that some of the connectors have holes, but some have
what look like stickpins (which are aptly named pins). The ones that have holes are called
female connectors; the ones that have pins are called male connectors. Lets leave it at that.
Now lets begin. Compare Figure 1-7 to Table 1-5: Whats on the Back of a Computer Case?
The back of your computer may be arranged differently but should include the same elements.
21
Table 1-5: Whats on the Back of a Computer Case?

Port
Icon
Description
The keyboard and mouse jacks look identical on most
PCs, so look for colors and icons to help you with
plugging in these devices.
Some mice and keyboards use USB ports. Older mice
may use a serial port.
Keyboard & Mouse
Serial (or COM) ports are a very versatile type of port.

Some of the things you can plug into a serial port include:
a mouse, modem, scanner, or digital camera. Most
computers have two serial ports: COM1 and COM2.
Serial or COM
You plug your printer into the parallel, or printer, port.

Many newer printers may use a USB port.
Parallel or Printer
Designed to replace older Serial and Parallel ports, the

USB (Universal Serial Bus) can connect computers with a
number of devices, such as printers, keyboards, mice,
scanners, digital cameras, PDAs, and more. Better yet,
the USB port supports plug-and-play, so you can simply
plug in a USB device and start using it.
USB 1 ports can transfer information at a speed up to
12 Mbps (Megabytes per Second). Newer USB 2 ports
can transfer information at a speed up to 480 Mbps. Most
computers come with two USB ports.
USB
You plug your monitor into the video port.

Video or Monitor
Line Out
The Line In jack allows you to listen to your computer

using a stereo system.
Line In
You can plug a microphone into this jack to record

sounds on your computer.
Microphone
Phone or Modem
SCSI
Firewire
Quick Reference
Ports on the Back of a
Computer Include:
Keyboard and Mouse
Serial or COM
Joystick or Game
Network or Ethernet
Plug in your speakers or headphone into the Line Out

jack.
<>
If you have a joystick, musical (MIDI) keyboard, or other

gaming device, this is where you plug it in.
Parallel or Printer
The phone or modem jack is where you plug your

computer into a phone line.
Video or monitor
You can connect your computer to a network by plugging

in an Ethernet cable in this port.
Joystick or game
USB
Line in, line out,
microphone
Phone or modem
An SCSI port is one of the fastest ways to connect a hard

drive, CD-ROM drive, or other device to a computer.
Ethernet or network
A FireWire (IEEE 1394 or i.LINK) port lets you connect

such devices as hard disks and digital camcorders to a
computer. A FireWire port can transfer information at a
speed up to 400 Mbps (Megabytes per Second).
Firewire
SCSI
22
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-6: System Bus and

Expansion Cards
Figure 1-8
Expansion cards plug
directly into a computers
motherboard.
Figure 1-9
Most computers have
around six expansion
slots.
Expansion
slots
Highway
System Bus
The number of lanes determines

how many cars can use the
highway at once
The bus width determines how

much information can flow
along the bus at a time
The speed limit determines how

fast cars can drive on the
highway
The bus speed determines

how fast information can travel
Youre furious! You just bought an expensive digital camcorder only to find out that it cant
connect to your computer because your computer apparently doesnt have a Firewire port.
Dont worryyou can easily add a Firewire port to the computer by buying an expansion
card.
Expansion cards allow you to add more gizmos and capabilities to a computer. You can also
use expansion cards to replace a component of a computer that breaks, like a modem.
Expansion cards plug into expansion slots on a computers motherboard.
Expansion cards plug
directly into the
motherboard.
A computer talks to its expansion cardsand everything else on the motherboardthrough

its bus. A computers bus is an electronic pathway that carries information between devices in
a computer. Two factors determine how information flows through the bus: the bus width and
the bus speed.
Bus Width
The bus width determines how many lanes there are on a computers electronic
highway. Actually, the bus width isnt measured in lanes, but in bits. The wider the bus,
the more information can travel across it at the same time.
Bus Speed
The bus speed determines how fast information can travel through the bus. The higher the
bus speed, the faster information can travel through it. Bus speed is measured in MHz.
23
As if this werent confusing enough there are several bus types out there. They include:
ISA
The Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) is the original, slowest, and oldest type of bus.
The ISA bus has a width of 16 bits and a speed of 8 MHz. The ISA bus is going the way
of dinosaurs and is no longer found on new computers.
PCI
The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus is the main bus found in computers.
The PCI bus can have a width of 32 or 64 bits. The PCI bus supports Plug and Play,
which lets you add new devices to a computer without a complicated installation process.
PCI Express is the next generation of PCI. PCI Express uses PIC programming
concepts and communications standards, but is based on a much faster serial
communications system.
AGP
An Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is a blazingly fast bus that is currently only used
for video cards. The AGP port has a width of 64 bits and supports Plug and Play.
So what kind of expansion cards are out there? Here are some of the more common expansion
cards that you may come across
Table 1-6: Common Types of Expansion Cards
Expansion Card
Modem
Description
A modem allows computers to exchange information through ordinary
telephone lines. Almost all computers already come with built-in modems, so
you would probably only want to add a modem expansion card if the original
modem in a computer breaks.
A network interface card (NIC) is an expansion card that connects a computer
to other computers on a network.
Network
Video or Graphics
A video card or adapter is what generates the images and text displayed on a
monitor. Computers come with a built-in video card, but some people like to
upgrade their original video card with faster, more powerful video cards.
A sound card lets a computer play and record sounds, just like a home stereo
system.
Sound
You can use expansion cards to add additional ports to a computer, such as
the newer Firewire or USB 2 ports.
Additional Port(s)
Quick Reference
An expansion card plugs
into a computers
motherboard to give it
additional capabilities.
A computer
communicates with its
expansion cards and
devices through the
system bus.
How much information
flows through the system
bus depends on the bus
width and bus speed.
There are several bus
types:
1. ISA
2. PCI
3. AGP
24
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-7: Memory Cache

Figure 1-10
An illustration of how a
computer searches for
information in a memory
cache.
Figure 1-11
An illustration of how a
police officer looks for a
gun in a weapons cache.
Internal
Cache
1. The computer looks
for data in the
internal cache first.
This is the fastest
way the computer
can get information.
External
Cache
RAM
Hard Disk
2. When the computer

does not find what
its looking for in
the internal cache,
it next looks in the
external cache.
3. If the computer
cant find what it
needs in the
internal or external
cache, it looks in
the slower main
memory (RAM).
4. If the computer still

cant find what it
needs, it looks at
the slow as
molasses hard disk
cache.
2. If the officer cant

find his revolver in
his hand, he next
reaches down to
his holster for the
gun.
3. If the officer cant

find his revolver in
its holster, he next
runs back to see if
he left it in the
squad car.
4. If the officer still

cant find his
revolver, his last
stop is a gun store.
Figure 1-10
1. Hopefully the officer

has his revolver in
his hand, ready for
action.
Figure 1-11
A memory cache increases a computers performance by storing the most recently used data.
There are two types of cache:
Internal Cache (also called primary or L1 cache)

When the computer needs data it first looks in the internal cache. The internal cache is
inside the CPU and is the fastest possible way for the computer to get information. The
internal cache can normally only contain a very small amount of information.
External Cache (also called secondary or L2 cache)

If the computer doesnt find the data in the internal cache, it then looks in the external
cache. The external cache is slower than the internal cache, but much faster than the
normal RAM memory. The external cache normally holds much more information than
the internal cache, but still not as much as the main memory (RAM).
25
Quick Reference
Memory Cache:
A special type of memory
that greatly increases a
computers performance.
26
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-8: Computer

Performance
Figure 1-12
There are lots of factors
that determine a
computers speed. Most of
them are listed in Table
1-7: Factors that Affect
Computer Performance.
Figure 1-12
Wondering why your neighbors computer is so much faster than your computer? There are a
number of reasons why a computer may run faster or slower. You learn about each of them by
reading Table 1-7: Factors that Affect Computer Performance.
A much simpler reason that your neighbors computer is faster than your computer is
probably because its newer.
Table 1-7: Factors that Affect Computer Performance
Factor
CPU Speed
Description
Arguably the single most important factor that determines a computers
performance is the speed of its CPU. The speed of the CPU is measured in
megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). The faster the CPU, the faster the
computer. The first PC in 1981 ran at 4.77 MHz, while todays computers can
run at speeds exceeding 3,000 MHz, or 3 GHz.
Amount of RAM
The amount of RAM, or memory, is another very important factor in a

computers performance. Generally, the more RAM a computer has the better
its performance. However, you usually wont see much of an improvement
after 1 GB of RAM.
Type of Video Card
Video cards have their own processor and memory, just like the computer
does. The faster the processor and the more memory a video card has, the
faster it can draw images on the monitor. Video card performance is especially
important if youre interested in playing newer, 3D computer games.
Factor
27
Description
A hard drives average access time is how fast it can find information. Average
access time is measured in milliseconds (ms), or 1/1000 of a second. The
lower the access speed, the faster the hard drive. Most newer computers have
an average access time of 8 to 15 ms.
Hard Drive Speed
Another factor that determines hard drive performance is how fast it spins, in
revolutions per minute (rpms). Faster IDE hard drives may have speeds as
fast as 7,200 rpm, while high-end SCSI hard drives have speeds of 15,000
rpm.
Not only do you need a fast hard drive, you have to make sure that is has
plenty of free storage space. Microsoft Windows uses this hard disk space to
create a cache on the hard drive where it stores temporary information.
Free Hard Disk

Space
Hard Disk
Fragmentation
Multitasking
Considerations
Normally a computer stores a file in the same location on a hard drive. Over
time, a hard drive can become fragmented, and instead of storing a file in the
same location it begins storing parts of it all over. When the computer needs to
read a fragmented file, it must read several different parts of the hard drive
instead of just one. Defragmenting a hard drive puts the fragmented files back
together in one place. You should defragment your computers hard drive
about once a month.
Microsoft Windows can multitask, or run more than one program or task at a
timeprobably no different than your job. And, just like your job, the more
programs or tasks you throw at Windows, the longer it takes to complete each
one, and hence a drop in computer performance.
Quick Reference
Computer Performance is
Determined By:
CPU speed
Amount of memory or
RAM
The type and speed of the
video card
A hard disks speed, free
space, and fragmentation
How many programs are
running, or multitasking,
at the same time
28
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-9: Buying a Desktop

Computer
Figure 1-13
What should you look for
when youre buying a new
computer? That depends
on what you want it to do.
Table 1-8: Desktop
Computer Buyers Guide
lists some of the more
important factors and
features to be aware of
when buying a new
computer. Just make sure
the information listed isnt
too out of date!
Figure 1-13
Nothings worse than going to the computer store and listening to a know-it-all salesperson
tell you to buy the most expensive computer in the store because the Radon graphics
accelerator with 128 megabytes of RAM is something he thinks youre definitely going to
need.
Instead of listening to a nerdy computer salesperson, who may be on commission or a sales
quota, call one of your computer-geek friends or relatives, tell them how youre going to use
your computer, and ask what they would recommend. If a computer-geek friend isnt readily
available, Table 1-8: Desktop Computer Buyers Guide will give you a good idea of what you
should look for when you buy a new computer. Just remember that computer technology
changes about as quickly as the latest fashions (every six months), so this information will
probably be out of date shortly after you read it.
Table 1-8: Desktop Computer Buyers Guide
Factor
CPU
Budget
Middle of the Road
High End, Gaming
Duron or Celeron at
2GHz
Pentium 4 at 2GHz,
Athlon at 1.7 GHz
Pentium 4 at 3GHz,
Athlon at 2.1GHz
256MB
512MB
1GB
15-inch or 17-inch CRT
17-inch CRT or
15-inch flat panel/LCD
19-inch CRT or
17-inch flat panel/LCD
RAM
Monitor
Factor
Budget
Middle of the Road
High End, Gaming
32MB
64MB to 128MB
128MB or more
40GB to 60GB
80GB
120GB or more
CD-ROM Drive
CD-RW Drive
DVD+-R/RW &
CD-R/RW Drive
USB 1.0
USB 2.0
USB 2.0, Firewire
Ethernet, 56K modem
Ethernet, 56K modem
29
Video Memory
Hard Drive
CD or DVD Drive
Ports
Included Devices
* This information was updated May 2003.
30
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-10: Buying a Notebook

Computer
Figure 1-14
What should you look for
when youre buying a new
computer? That depends
on what you want it to do.
Table 1-9: Notebook
Buyers Guide lists some
of the more important
factors and features to be
aware of when buying a
new computer. Just make
sure the information listed
isnt too out of date!
Figure 1-14
Deciding on which notebook to buy is even more confusing than buying a desktop computer.
Thats because there is much more variance in features and prices between various notebooks.
Notebook computers cant be upgraded as easily as desktop computers, so your decision is
pretty much final.
Table 1-9: Notebook Buyers Guide will give you a good idea of what you should look for
when you buy a new notebook computer. Just remember that notebook technology changes
incredibly fast, so dont use Table 1-9: Notebook Buyers Guide after December 2003.
Some other important factors to consider when buying a notebook include:
Size
Generally speaking, while convenient and cool looking, smaller notebooks arent as
powerful or fast as larger notebook computers. If you travel frequently and need to lug
your notebook around with you, you might want to consider a smaller notebook. If your
notebook doesnt move around much youre probably better off with a larger notebook.
Battery Life
A notebooks battery life can range any where from 2 to 7 hours. Some notebooks can
even accept a second battery for extra long life. Battery life probably isnt much of an
issue if you only use your notebook when its plugged into the wall.
Warrantee
Notebook computers are notorious for breaking down. Whats worse, theyre not very
easy to open and they have their own unique notebook parts, so theyre much harder and
more expensive to repair than their desktop counterparts. Most of us hate the old threeyear extended warrantee sales pitch, but if youre buying a notebook computer the cost of
the extra warranty is probably worth it.
31
Included Devices and Features

Notebook computers usually have several devices and gizmos built-inoften more than
a desktop computer! A modem and Ethernet port are usually a standard part of most
notebooks today. Some notebooks also have memory card readers (especially useful if
you have a digital camera or PDA), Firewire ports, and even wireless networking, known
as WiFi. If youre comparing various notebook models, make sure that you know what
devices are or arent included.
Table 1-9: Notebook Buyers Guide

Factor
CPU
Budget
Middle of the Road
High End
Duron, Celeron,
Pentium 3 , or Athlon at
700MHz or better
Duron, Celeron,
Pentium 3 or 4, or
Athlon at 1GHz or better
Pentium 4 at 2GHz or
better
256MB
256MB
512MB
16MB
32MB to 64MB
32MB to 64MB
20GB
30GB
60GB
CD-ROM Drive
CD-RW Drive
DVD & CD-R/RW Drive
USB 1.0
USB 2.0
USB 2.0, Firewire
56K modem
Ethernet, possibly WiFi

(wireless networking)
56K modem
Ethernet, WiFi (wireless

networking), 56K
modem, Bluetooth (a
next-generation wireless
port)
RAM
Video Memory
Hard Drive
CD or DVD Drive
Ports
Included Devices
* This information was updated May 2003.
32
Computer Basics
Lesson 1-11: Upgrading a

Computer
Figure 1-15
Computer upgrades can
get expensive! Theres a
fine line between when its
more cost effective to
upgrade an older
computer, or to simply buy
a new computer
altogether.
Figure 1-16
Most computer upgrades
require that you, or better
yet someone who actually
knows about computers,
opens up the computer
case.
Figure 1-15
Figure 1-16
When you upgrade a computer, you usually replace older components with newer
components to improve the computers performance. You can also upgrade a computer by
adding additional components, such as more memory or a second hard drive. Upgrading a
computer to improve its performance is often cheaper than buying a new computer. For most
upgrades you will need someone with a lot of computer experience to do the upgrade for you.
Its often difficult to determine which is betterupgrading an old computer or simply buying
a new computer. If youre an average computer user, plan on buying a new computer every
four or five years (sorrysomeone has to break this news to you). By then, the cost of a new
computer will be less expensive than any effective upgrades you do.
33
So what can you do to upgrade a computer? The following table lists some of the more
common upgrades.
Table 1-10: Typical Things to Upgrade on a Computer
Upgrade
Memory (RAM)
Hard Disk
CPU and
Motherboard
Add Devices and

Peripherals
Description
Increasing the amount of memory in a computer is probably the most effective
and inexpensive upgrades you can make. More memory can significantly
increase the performance of your computer. 512MB to 1GB of memory is all you
should ever needfor the next year or so anyway.
The hard drives in newer computers have become so huge that you may never
need to buy another one. If you do somehow run out of room on your hard
drive, you can buy a second one, since most computer can handle two internal
hard drives.
Its often better to buy a whole new computer than to upgrade the CPU and
motherboard. That way you get all new components all oncewhich is a lot
cheaper than buying them all individually.
There are an endless variety of devices that you can add to a computer. You
can add CD-ROM, DVD, and Zip drives, graphics cards, tape backups, and
more.
Quick Reference
Make sure any upgrades
you make to a computer are
worth the costsometimes
its simply better to buy a
new computer.
Upgrades to Improve
Performance Include:
Adding more memory or
RAM
Adding a bigger hard
drive
Adding a new CPU and
motherboard (usually not
recommended)
Adding new devices, such
as a DVD drive
34
Computer Basics
Chapter One Review

Lesson Summary
Hardware, Software, and Information Technology (IT)
A typical computer includes the system unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and printer.
Hardware: A computer item you can physically see or touch.
Software: A computer program that tells computer hardware how to operate.
Information Technology (IT): The broad subject related to computers and managing and
processing information.
Computer Overview
The basic computer processes are input, processing, and output.
Different types of computers include mainframes, PCs, Macs, servers, laptops, and PDAs.
The Front of a Computer and Peripheral Devices
Components visible from the outside of the system unit may include the floppy drive, CD-ROM or
DVD drive, Zip drive or tape backup, keyboard, mouse, scanner, monitor, speakers, and printer.
The Inside of a Computer
Components inside the system unit may include the motherboard, CPU (Central Processing Unit),
RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM-BIOS, expansion slots and cards, and PCMCIA cards in
laptops.
The Back of a Computer (Ports)
Ports on the back of a computer include: keyboard, mouse, serial or COM, printer or parallel, USB,
video or monitor, line in, line out, microphone, joystick or game, phone or modem, Ethernet or
network, SCSI, and/or Firewire.
System Bus and Expansion Cards
An expansion card plugs into a computers motherboard to give it additional capabilities.
A computer communicates with its expansion cards and devices through the system bus.
How much information flows through the system bus depends on the bus width and bus speed.
There are several bus types, including ISA, PCI, and AGP.
Memory Cache
Memory Cache: A special type of memory that greatly increases a computers performance.
35
Computer Performance
Computer performance is determined by CPU speed, amount of memory or RAM, the type and
speed of the video card, the hard disk speed, free space, and fragmentation, and the number of
programs running at the same time.
Upgrading a Computer
Make sure any upgrades you make to a computer are worth the costsometimes its simply better
to buy a new computer.
Upgrades to improve performance include adding more memory or RAM, adding a bigger hard
drive, adding a new CPU and motherboard (usually not recommended), and adding new devices,
such as a DVD drive.
Quiz
1. Hardware is any software that is installed on a computers hard disk. (True
or False?)
2. Laptops are faster than desktop PCs, generally speaking. (True or False?)
3. Which of the following moves the pointer to another location on-screen?
A. Pressing the arrow keys on the keyboard.
B. Moving the mouse until the pointer points to that spot.
C. Moving the mouse until the pointer points to that spot and clicking the left mouse
button.
D. Moving the mouse until the pointer points to that spot and clicking the right mouse
button.
4. Which of the following is NOT a type of computer port?
A.
B.
C.
D.
USB
Parallel or printer
Backup
Network or Ethernet
5. When you type a document on a computer, every letter you type is saved to
the computers _______ or temporary storage area.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hard drive
RAM
ROM
CPU
6. What is the brain or main chip of a computer called?

A.
B.
C.
D.
The RAM
The ROM-BIOS
The motherboard
The CPU
36
Computer Basics
7. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory (True or False?)
8. Which of the following does NOT affect a computer s performance?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The amount of memory or RAM.

The speed of the CPU.
The type and speed of the video or graphics card.
The number of keys on the keyboard.
Quiz Answers
1. False. Hardware is any physical part of the computer you can see and touch.
2. False. Laptops are generally slower than desktop PCs.
3. B. Move the pointer by moving the mouse until the pointer points to that spot.
4. C. There isnt such as thing as a backup port.
5. B. RAM or Random Access Memory.
6. D. The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the main chip in a computer.
7. True. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory.
8. D. The number of keys on the keyboard does not affect a computers performance.
Chapter Two:
Understanding
Hardware
Chapter Objectives:
Understand what a CPU does
Learn how memory is measured
Learn about input devices: mouse, keyboard, and digital cameras
Learn about output devices: monitor, graphics, and printers
Learn about storage devices: hard drives, CD-ROMs, and DVDs
Hardware is any physical part of a computer that you can see or touch. A computers monitor,
CD-ROM or DVD drive, mouse, keyboard, and printer are all different types of hardware.
This chapter takes a closer look at the physical parts that constitute a computer.
This chapter is broken up into several sections, since there are several different categories of
hardware devices. First well examine processing devices, such as computers CPU and
memory. Youll finally understand what those technical sounding words megahertz and
gigabyte mean. From there well move on to input devices, such as the keyboard and mouse
and output devices, such as the monitor and printer. The last part of this chapter discusses
storage devices, such as hard drives and CD-ROM drives.
Thats a lot of material to cover, so lets get started!
Prerequisites
computers.
38
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-1: Central Processing

Unit (CPU)
Figure 2-1
The Intel Pentium 4 is the
fastest and most recent
CPU available.
Central
Processing
Unit (CPU)
Figure 2-2
The CPU can get hot!
Most CPUs have a built-in
fan to keep them from
burning out.
Figure 2-1
Figure 2-2
Inside the computer case, hidden amongst all the wiring and gizmos, is a particularly
important part of the computer known as the central processing unit (or CPU, for short). The
CPU is also known as the computer chip (because thats what it is) or the microprocessor (or
processor, for short).
A CPUs speed is
measured in
megahertz (MHz) or
gigahertz (GHz).
Some say the CPU is the brain of the computer while others describe it as the heart. In any
case, its the thing that makes your computer a computer. The CPU does all the work: It
calculates, it processes, it keeps things running smoothly. You might think of it as a talented
stage manager. When it does its behind-the-scenes job well, you dont notice it; you simply
enjoy the performance.
Originally, CPUs were given wildly inventive names like Chip. Okay, maybe not. The names
were actually based on numbers like 8088. The next few names in the seriesthe 286, the
386, and the 486were actually just shortened names for 80286, 80386, and 80486. Then,
what would have been the 586 was dubbed the Pentium. After that, the names became rather
mysterious: Pentium Pro and Pentium MMX. Finally, the names returned to a semi-ordered
numbering system (albeit a mix of Roman and Arabic numerals): Pentium 2, Pentium 3, and
Pentium 4. And thats where we are at the moment. Both the Pentium 3 and the Pentium 4 are
still quite common.
Intel makes most CPUs. In fact, Intel is the company that came up with the name Pentium.
However, AMD and VIA Technologies are two other well-known CPU manufacturers. Their
CPUs are less expensive and use a different naming system (such as the AMD Athlon and the
AMD Duron). Intel actually makes a less expensive version of the Pentium as well, which it
calls the Celeron. The Celeron does what the Pentium does, but not as quickly.
Speaking of which, speed is what the CPU is all about, and each successive version of the
CPU gets progressively faster. A CPUs speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) or, for newer
models, in gigahertz (GHz). A megahertz equals millions of cycles per second; a gigahertz
equals billions of cycles per second. Higher numbers equate to higher speeds. You might see
an Intel Pentium 4 at 3.06 GHz, a Pentium III at 1.40 GHz, and a Celeron at 2.20 GHz.
Another common measure of a CPU is how many bits it can handle at a time. A bit is the
tiniest piece of information processed by a computer. Eight bits make up one byte, and one
byte equals one character. Computers used to handle 8 or 16 bits; now theyre up to 32 and 64
Chapter Two: Understanding Hardware
39
at a time. Dont worry if all of this seems a bit confusingwell cover bits and bytes in
greater detail in a later lesson.
Table 2-1: Types of CPUs
CPU
Speed
Description
Older
Processors
1 GHz to
3 GHz
Intel Pentium 4 Processor

The Pentium 4 is Intels more recent and fastest generation of CPUs,
with processing speeds over 3 GHz.
450 MHz to
1 GHz
Intel Pentium III Processor

Launched in 1999, Pentium 3 CPUs are still found in some new
computers.
1.06 to
2 GHz
Intel Celeron Processor

Intels Celeron CPU is an inexpensive processor designed for people on
budget. Celeron processors are very similar to Pentium processors, but
they have less built-in memory.
500 MHz to
3 GHz
Intel Xeon Processor

Dont expect to see any Xeon-based computers at your local computer
storeits designed for high-end servers.
850 MHz to
1.67 GHz
AMD Athon Processor

The Athlon processor is equivalent to Pentium processorsonly its less
expensive.
1.5 GHz to
1.8 GHz
AMD Sempron Processor

The Sempron CPU is AMDs answer to Intels Celeron processor. It has
less built-in memory and is designed for people on a budget.
Heres a summary of the other most commonand obsolete
processors out there:
Processor
Pentium II
Pentium
486
386
286
8088
Release Date
1997
1993
1989
1985
1982
1979
Average Speed
266 MHz
133 MHz
66 MHz
25 MHz
12.5 MHz
8 MHz
Quick Reference
The CPU, or Central
Processing Unit, is the
computers main chip. It
calculates and processes
information.
CPU Speed is Measured
In:
Megahertz (MHz).
Gigahertz (GHz).
Common CPUs Include:
Intel Pentium III
Intel Pentium 4
Intel Celeron
AMD Athlon
AMD Duron
40
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-2: Memory

Figure 2-3
A hard drive might have
60GB of memory.
Figure 2-4
A recordable CD (CD-R)
can have up to 700MB of
memory.
Figure 2-5
A memory chip might have
512MB of memory.
Figure 2-3
Figure 2-4
Figure 2-6
A zip disk can have
between 100MB and
250MB of memory.
Figure 2-6
Figure 2-5
Most people know that a computer has memory. But what does that really mean? You often
hear techies toss around numbers like 60GB hard drive. Okay, that sounds impressive, but
what does it tell you? This lesson breaks memory into measurable units.
The first thing you need to know is that, at its most basic level, a computer only understands
the concept of on and off. On is represented by the number one (1); off is represented by the
number zero (0). Everything that a computer does is based on this combination of ones and
zeros, which is known as the binary system. These ones and zeros are digits, known as bits,
which are the smallest memory unit. The term bit is short for binary digit.
Everything that a
computer does is
based on a combination
of ones and zeros,
which is known as the
binary system.
The second thing you need to know is that a computer saves information in bytes, not bits. So
what is a byte? The term byte is short for binary digits eight. So one byte is made up of eight
bits. And a byte is the equivalent of a character, which can be a letter, a number, or a symbol.
So lets say that youre a self-involved poet whose latest creation is simply titled I. That
one-word title would equal one byte.
Of course, it would be fairly tedious if a computer stored everything in single bytes. The next
largest unit is the kilobyte. A kilobyte (abbreviated K or KB) equals 1,024 bytes or characters.
Now lets say youre a short-story writer. The one-page, double-spaced masterpiece you
submit to your editor would be the equivalent of a kilobyte.
After the kilobyte, the next largest unit is the megabyte. A megabyte (abbreviated M or MB)
equals 1,048,576 bytes or characters. If you were a novelist, your latest bestseller would equal
a megabyte.
41
The next unit after the megabyte is the gigabyte. A gigabyte (abbreviated G or GB) equals
1,073,741,824 bytes or characters. Lets pretend you are a researcher. A whole shelf of books
devoted to your favorite subject would be the equivalent of a gigabyte.
Finally, after the gigabyte comes the terabyte. A terabyte (abbreviated T or TB) equals
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or characters. Lets imagine that youre an egomaniac who owns an
entire bookstore filled only with books by authors you like. Such a single-minded store would
be the equivalent of a terabyte.
Okay, lets review. The following table summarizes all the units of memory.
MB is an abbreviation
for megabyte. GB is an
abbreviation for
gigabyte.
Table 2-2: Bits and Bytes

Unit
Abbreviation
Bit
Byte
Size
Symbol
8 bits
Equivalent
An atom or speck, the
smallest unit of
memory.
A single letter, a
number, or a symbol.
Quick Reference
Computers function based
on the binary system:
Kilobyte
Megabyte
K or KB
M or MB
1,024 bytes
1,048,576 bytes
A one-page, doublespaced letter.
On is represented by a
one (1).
A best-selling novel.
Ones and zeros are

digits, known as bits.
Off is represented by a
zero (0).
Bit:
Short for binary digit
Smallest memory unit
Gigabyte
G or GB
1,073,741,824 bytes
An encyclopedia set.
Eight bits equal one byte

Byte:
Short for binary digits
eight.
Terabyte
T or TB
1,099, 511,627,776
bytes
A bookstore.
One byte equals one

character (letter, number,
or symbol)
Kilobyte (K or KB):
1,024 bytes
Megabyte (M or MB):
1,048,576 bytes
Gigabyte (G or GB):
1,073,741,824 bytes
Terabyte:
1,099, 511,627,776 bytes
42
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-3: RAM and ROM

Figure 2-7
RAM, or Random Access
Memory, works like a
notepad; you can read
from it and write to it.
Figure 2-8
ROM, or Read Only
Memory, works like a
novel, you can read from it
but not write to it.
Figure 2-7
Figure 2-8
So now you know that computer memory is measured in various byte-sized units: kilobytes,
megabytes, gigabytes, petrabytes, and philobytes. Okay, those last two were just made up to
see if you were paying attention.
Next you need to know that computers have two major types of memory: random-access
memory (or RAM) and read-only memory (or ROM). Lets discuss these two types of memory
in greater detail.
RAM (random-access memory)

When someone at a computer superstore tells you how much memory a new computer
has, theyre really talking about RAM. RAM is the computers main memory, which it
uses to process information. Whenever you work with a file on your computer, youre
using RAM. And the data in that file is temporarily stored in RAM. However, RAM is
volatile, which means that the data is stored only as long as the computer has power.
Once you shut off your computer, the data is gone. However, you can and should save
your data (read: your file). Thats where storage comes in, but more on that later. For
now, think of RAM like a notebook: You can read from it and write to it. Technically, it
could be called read and write memory. And, as with a notebook, you can overwrite it
many, many timesprovided you have an eraser!
ROM (read-only memory)

ROM is the computers low-level memory, which it uses to perform its most basic
functions. This memory is permanent; the data remains even if you shut off the computer.
This only makes sense because ROM is required to restart your computer. You never hear
people discuss how much ROM you have because the manufacturer usually installs it,
and you never touch it. It does all the behind-the-scenes work and then disappears once
youre underway, much like a party planner. You can also think of ROM like a novel: You
can read from it, but you cant write to it (and thus, its name).
When you work with a

file on your computer,
youre using RAM.
Table 2-3: Comparing RAM and ROM
RAM
ROM
Random-access memory
Read-only memory
RAM
ROM
Main memory.
Low-level memory.
Necessary to process information (example: work

with a file).
Necessary to perform the most basic functions

(example: start the computer).
Volatile: If not saved, data disappears when you

shut off the computers power. Its temporary.
Nonvolatile: Data remains even when you shut off

the computers power. Its permanent.
Often discussed when buying a computer.
Seldom mentioned when buying a computer.
You can read from and write to it. Comparable to a

notepad.
You can read from it, but you cant write to it.
Comparable to a novel.
43
Quick Reference
Computers have two types
of memory:
Random-access memory
(RAM).
Read-only memory
(ROM).
RAM:
Computers main
memory, which is used to
process information
(example: work with a
file).
Volatile: Unless saved,
data disappears when
you shut off the computer.
You can read from it and
write to it. Comparable to
a notebook; you can read
and write to it.
ROM:
Computers low-level
memory, which is used to
perform its most basic
functions (example: start
the computer).
Nonvolatile: Data remains
even when you shut off
the computer. Its
permanent.
You can read from it, but
you cant write to it.
Comparable to a novel;
you can only read it.
44
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-4: Mouse

Figure 2-9
Double-clicking with the
mouse.
Figure 2-10
Right-clicking with the
mouse.
Figure 2-11
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click
Press and
release the
left mouse
button.
Double-click
Quickly press and
release the left
mouse
button twice, in
rapid succession.
Figure 2-9
Figure 2-9
Dragging and dropping

with the mouse.
Hold down the

mouse button
while you drag
the mouse across
your desk.
Figure 2-12
Using the scroll wheel.
Click!
Right-click
Press and
release the
right mouse
button.
Figure 2-10
Use the
center wheel
to scroll
through
screens of
information.
Drag and drop

Place the pointer over an object and press and
hold down the left mouse button. While still
holding down the button, move the mouse (and
thus the cursor) to where you want to place the
object and then release the mouse button.
Figure 2-11
Figure 2-12
A computer would be useless if you had no way to communicate with it. Thats why you need
an input device. Essentially, an input device lets you talk to your computer. Two examples of
input devices are the keyboard and the mouse. Well discuss keyboards later; for now lets
concentrate on the mouse.
The underside of a
roller ball mouse.
That funny-looking object that, frankly, looks like a mouse (with its oval body and long taillike cord connecting it to the computer) is the mouse. Originally, computers only came with a
keyboard. But in 1968 Doug Engelbart invented the mouse. In 1984, Apple Computers
introduced the mouse with its Macintosh computers. Shortly thereafter, the mouse was
standard equipment on all computers.
The mouse acts as a handheld pointing device that allows you to control the actions of that
blinking item on your screen known as a cursor. Depending on the software you are using and
the task you are doing, the cursor may resemble such symbols as a slanted arrow ( ), an I
( ), or a vertical line (). A cursor is essentially a place-marker that appears on your computer
screen. You move the mouse to place the cursor over an object on your screen and click the
mouse buttons to select that object. Once an object has been selected, you can move it or
manipulate it. Well cover mouse buttons in greater detail in a later lesson.
Some mouse pads have

a wrist rest to help
users keep their hands
and wrists in better
alignment.
The standard mouse has two buttons and a rollerball on the underside, which moves the
cursor on the screen when you move the mouse. A rollerball mouse works best when used on
a mouse pad, especially one that has a rough texture on its surface. Some mouse pads now
come with a wrist rest to help users keep their hands and wrists in better alignment.
45
Like other computer components, mice come in several shapes and sizes. Some mice have
three (or more) buttons, which are programmable, and some include a trackball on the top
(instead of a rollerball on the underside). Most new mice include a center scroll wheel
between the two buttons. Not surprisingly, this scroll wheel lets you scroll through screens of
information in a fluid motion. Many new mice are also ergonomically designed to fit the
users hand. And some new mice have Forward and Back buttons off to the side of the mouse,
which help you navigate the Internet.
One of the latest innovations is the optical mouse, which is becoming quite common. An
optical mouse operates by using an infrared sensor, which means it uses neither a rollerball
nor a mouse pad. You can identify an optical mouse by the telltale red glow emanating from
its underside.
One other hot innovation is the wireless mouse (and keyboard). A wireless mouse and
keyboard run on batteries and communicate with the computer the same way a remote control
communicates with a television.
A wireless mouse
works just like a
remote control.
Quick Reference
Input devices on a
standard computer:
Keyboard.
Mouse.
What a mouse does:
It acts as a handheld
pointing device and
controls the actions of
that blinking item on your
computer screen known
as a cursor.
46
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-5: Keyboard

Function keys or F keys
Esc key
Figure 2-13
The 101-key enhanced
keyboard
Esc
~
`
!
1
Tab
Caps
Lock
Shift
F1
F2
F3
F4
@
2
#
3
$
4
%
5
W
A
S
Z
R
D
F5
^
6
T
F
&
7
F8
(
9
U
H
F7
*
8
Y
G
F6
Status lights
I
J
F10
)
0
O
K
F9
+
=
>
.
Print
Screen
Scroll
Lock
Backspace
Insert
Home
Page
Up
Delete
End
Page
Down
}
[
:
;
L
<
,
F12
F11
|
\
]
"
'
?
/
Pause
Num
Lock
Caps
Lock
Scroll
Lock
Num
Lock
Home
PgUp
Enter
Shift
End
PgDn
Enter
Ctrl
Alt
Alt
Alt key
Ctrl
Ins
Arrow keys
.
Del
Numeric keypad
Shift key
Figure 2-13
Ctrl key
Like the mouse, the keyboard is an input device that allows you to talk to the computer. The
keyboard is easily recognizable because it resembles a typewriter keypad. If the typewriter
predates you, then look for the component thats covered with buttons that have letters,
numbers, and symbols on them.
An ergonomic
keyboard is designed
to relieve the stress
of typing for long
periods of time.
If youve ever used a typewriter, you probably recognize many of the keys on a keyboard. In
any case, the alphanumeric, symbol, and punctuation keys are self-explanatory. And well
review the rest of the keys that are unique to a (101-key and 104-key) keyboard. However, we
will ignore the three keys found above the numeric keypad (<Print Screen/Sys Req>, <Scroll
Lock>, and <Pause/Break>) because they are all fairly useless on most computers today.
NOTE: If your keyboard includes multimedia and Internet buttons above the keys,
consult the manual that comes with your keyboard to learn their functions.
Table 2-4: Special Keys and Their Functions
Key(s)
Description
The <Alt> key doesnt do anything by itselfit needs another key to make things
happen. For example, pressing the <Tab> key while holding down the <Alt> key
switches between any programs that are currently running.
Just like the <Alt> key, the <Ctrl> key doesnt do anything by itselfyou need to
press another key with it to make things happen. For example, pressing the <X>
key while holding down the <Ctrl> key cuts whatever is selected.
The <F1> key is the help key, and pressing it displays helpful information about
what youre doing.
The <Esc> (Escape) key is the Wait, Ive changed my mind key and is the same
as clicking Cancel in a dialog box. For example, if you click something and an
unfamiliar dialog box appears, you can close it by pressing the <Esc> key.
Key(s)
47
Description
The <Enter> key is the Carry out my orders key and is the same as clicking the
OK button in a dialog box. For example, after youve typed the name of a program
you want to run in a dialog box, press <Enter> to run the program. The <Enter>
key also adds new lines and starts new paragraphs if youre entering text.
When youre in a dialog box, pressing the <Tab> key moves to the next field.
When youre using a word processor, the <Tab> key works just like youd think it
would and jumps to the nearest tab stop whenever you press it.
The arrow keys move your computers cursor across the screen.
Nothing surprising here. The <Delete> key deletes or erases whatever you
selectfiles, text, or graphical objects. If youre working with text, the <Delete>
key erases characters to the right of the insertion point.
Use the <Backspace> key to fix your typing mistakesit erases characters to the
left of the insertion point.
The <Home> key jumps to the beginning of the current line when youre working
with text.
The <End> key jumps to the end of the current line when youre working with text.
The <Page Up> key moves up one screen.
The <Page Down> key moves down one screen.
Quick Reference
A keyboard lets you enter
information and
commands into a
computer.
48
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-6: Digital Cameras and

Web Cams
Figure 2-14
A digital camera.
Figure 2-15
A Web cam usually sits on
top of a computers
monitor.
Figure 2-16
Cameras with more
megapixels can take
sharper and more detailed
pictures.
Figure 2-14
Figure 2-16
Figure 2-15
A megapixel contains
one million pixels.
A digital camera lets you take pictures that you can transfer to a computer. Once youve
transferred your pictures you can print them, insert them in word processing document, or
send them in an e-mail message. You can also edit digital photos, to remove such undesirable
objects as redeye or an ex-boyfriend.
The quality of the pictures a digital camera takes depends on its resolution, which is measured
in megapixels. One megapixel is equal to one million, or 1000 1000 pixels. The higher the
number of megapixels, the clearer and more detailed the picture.
Digital cameras dont use filmthey store their pictures on a type of removable memory
called flash cards. Flash cards can store anywhere from a dozen to several hundred pictures,
depending on how much memory they have. There are three different types or formats of flash
cards out there:
CompactFlash: Definitely the most common type of digital film out there,
CompactFlash cards can typically store anywhere from 8MB to over 1GB.
SmartMedia: SmartMedia is another a very popular type of memory card because of
its small size. SmartMedia cards are also widely used in many PDAs. SmartMedia cards
are available in capacities ranging from 2 MB to 128 MB.
49
Memory Stick: Sony makes this type of memory card for use in its own products:
Sony digital cameras, Sony PDAs, etc. Memory sticks are available in capacities ranging
from 4 MB to 128 MB.
Another popular toy you can add to your computer is a Web cam. A Web cam is a tiny digital
video camera that usually sits on top of a computers monitor. People use Web cams for
videoconferencing and to send live images over the Internet.
Table 2-5: Comparison of Megapixels
Megapixels
Image Size
Description
Under 1
640480
Entry level and obsolete digital cameras have a measly resolution

of 640x480 pixels. These cameras are fine if you want to e-mail
someone a picture or send someone a photo on a computer, but
the quality of a printed image is terrible when printed as 4x6in
photo.
1024768
Supposedly 1024768 resolution is this is enough to make sharp

4x6 inch prints. The truth is, at this point it depends more on the
quality of the digital camera than the resolution. Many printed
photos can still look digital or blurry at this resolution.
16001200
Two-megapixel cameras can take fine 4x6 inch prints and even
respectable 8x10s, about what you'd expect from a low-end film
camera.
20481536
Once you reach the three-megapixel bracket the quality of print is

normally excellent up to 8x11 prints. If you're looking for a really
good digital camera with strong features and good image quality,
three megapixels is a good range to search in.
22721740
Four-megapixel cameras are starting to get into the enthusiast

territory. They take exceptionally sharp photos and can print even
larger prints than 8x11.
25601920
Were definitely in enthusiast professional territory now.

Five-megapixel cameras are even used by professional
photographers to take really big prints.
Quick Reference
A digital camera lets you
take pictures and transfer
them to a computer.
The quality, or resolution
of the pictures a digital
camera can take are
measured in megapixels,
or millions of pixels (dots).
The more pixels, the
better the resolution.
50
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-7: Other Input Devices

Figure 2-17
Theres usually not
enough room to use a
mouse on an airplane or
on the beach. Its for this
reason that most laptops
have built-in touch pads
and AccuPoint Pointing
Devices.
Figure 2-17
The keyboard and mouse are the two most common input devices for a computer, but there
are many more. Most respectable laptops have a built-in touch pad or AccuPoint Pointing
Device or pointing stick that works like a mouse. Other mouse alternatives include track balls
and light pens.
Other common computer input devices include scanners for copying images to a computer,
joysticks for playing games, and microphones for recording sound. You can learn about these
input devices by taking a look at the table on the next page.
51
Table 2-6: Other Input Devices

Input Device
Touch Pad
AccuPoint
Pointing Device
Description
A touch pad is a small, touch-sensitive pad used as a pointing device on some
portable computers. By moving a finger or other object along the pad, you can
move the pointer on the display screen.
An Accupoint Pointing Device, or pointing stick, is another mouse substitute
that is found on many laptop computers. An Accupoint Pointing Device usually
sits in the middle of the keyboard and resembles an eraser at the end of a
pencil.
A track ball is essentially a mouse lying on its back. To move the pointer, you
rotate the ball with your thumb, your fingers, or the palm of your hand.
Track Ball
Light Pen
A light pen is input device that utilizes a light-sensitive detector to select objects
on a display screen. A light pen is similar to a mouse, except that with a light
pen you can move the pointer and select objects on the display screen by
directly pointing to the objects with the pen.
A scanner is a lot like a photocopier. Instead of producing copies, a scanner
converts images into digital information and stores it in a computer.
Scanner
Mostly used for computer games, a joystick is a lever that moves in all
directions and usually controls some type of movement on the computer.
Quick Reference
Joystick
If your computer has a sound card (and most computer have one) you can plug
in a microphone to digitally record sounds to your computer.
Microphone
Other Input Devices

Include:
Touch pads
AccuPoint Pointing
Devices
Track balls
Light pens
Scanners
Joysticks
Microphones
52
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-8: Monitor

Figure 2-18
Similar in appearance to a
television screen, a
monitor displays images
and text on its screen.
Figure 2-19
Flat-panel monitors are
more expensive than
traditional monitors, but
they take up less space
and use less electricity.
Figure 2-18
Figure 2-20
Figure 2-19
Common controls found

on the front of a monitor.
Move Image
Left-Right
Stretch Image
Left-Right
Move Image
Up-Down
Pincushion
In-Out
Stretch Image
Up-Down
Brightness
Wider-Narrower
Image
Contrast
Figure 2-20
A computers monitor looks and works a lot like a TV screen. The monitor is really only half
of what makes text and images appear on the screen. The other half is the graphic card, or
video/display adapter. The monitor plugs into the graphics card in the back of the computer.
Flat panel or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors, like the one in Figure 2-19, will
eventually replace older CRT monitors, like the one shown in Figure 2-18. A flat panel
monitor is the same type of display that is found in laptop computers. Flat panel monitors are
thin, lightweight, and use a lot less electricity than traditional monitors. Flat panel monitors
are also considerably more expensive than traditional monitors, although the price is
dropping. Flat panel monitors are wider than traditional monitors are; in fact a 15-inch flat
panel monitor has almost the same viewing area as a 17-inch traditional monitor!
0.28 mm
dot pitch
Dot pitch is the

distance between
pixels or dots on a
screen. Dot pitch is
measured in
millimeters (mm).
Size
The size of a monitor is measured diagonally across the screen, just like TVs. Common
monitor sizes are 15, 17, 19, and 21 inches. The most popular monitor size is currently 17
inches.
Dot Pitch
Dot pitch refers to the distance between each pixel, or dot, on the screen, as measured in
millimeters (mm). The smaller the dot pitch, the closer the dots, and the sharper the
image is. If youre in the market for a monitor try to find one with a 0.28 mm or less.
Refresh Rate
The refresh rate determines how quickly the monitor redraws, or updates, the image on
the screen. Higher refresh rates are better, since they flicker less and are easier on the
eyes. The refresh rate is measured in herz (Hz), or the number of times per second the
monitor redraws the entire screen. If youre buying a new monitor, make sure to get one
with a refresh rate of 72 Hz or better.
53
Screen Savers and Energy Star Compliance

A screen saver is a moving picture that appears on your computer screen when you dont
use your computer for a while. Screen savers originally prevented phosphor burn, which
occurred when a static image became etched onto the screen after a long period of time.
Todays monitors arent susceptible to phosphor burn, but some people still use screen
savers for fun.
Most monitors are Energy Star compliant. This means they automatically turn themselves
off after a period of time to save electricity. You turn the monitor back only by simply
moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard.
Quick Reference
CRT Monitors:
Older type of monitor that
looks like a television set.
Flat Panel LCD Monitors:
Newer type of monitor
that is thin, lightweight
and somewhat more
expensive.
Other Things to Know
about Monitors:
The size of a monitor is
measured diagonally
across the screen.
Average monitor sizes
range from 15-inches to
21-inches.
The monitor refresh rate
determines how quickly
the monitor redraws, or
updates, the image on the
screen. Most monitors
have a refresh rate of
72MHz or better.
A screen saver is a
moving picture that
appears on your
computer screen when
you dont use your
computer for a while.
54
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-9: Graphics Card

Figure 2-21
A computers monitor
plugs into the graphic
card, an expansion slot
that plugs into a
computers motherboard.
Figure 2-22
Newer computer games
have fantastic graphics
but youll need a
3D graphics accelerator
card to see them.
Figure 2-21
Figure 2-22
The second part of a computers video system is the graphic card or video adapter. A graphics
card is an expansion card that plugs into a computers motherboard and is responsible for all
the text and pretty images that appear on your computers monitor. Many computers dont
have a graphics card at allall the video capabilities are instead built into the computers
motherboard.
Graphics cards come in many models and prices. More expensive graphics cards are faster
and can display more complex, 3D graphicssomething especially useful if youre into
computer games. Here are the basics about graphic cards:
Screen Resolution
Resolution has to do with how much information can fit on the computer screen.
Obviously you cant adjust how large or small your computers monitor is (without
buying a new one that is), but you can make all the images on your screen larger or
smaller so you can see more information at once. You can adjust the screen resolution to
suit your needs and preferences. For more information about screen resolution see Table
2-7: Common Screen Resolutions.
Color Depth
Color depth is the number of colors that are displayed on the screen at once. So why
would you want to change the number of colors displayed on your screen? Perhaps you
want to use higher color depth settings to make videos and photographs more realistic. Or
some finicky games also require you to use a specific color depth. For more information
about color depth see Table 2-8: Common Color Depths.
Graphics Card Memory

Graphics cards have their own memory, or RAM, just like a computer. Youll need more
memory to display higher screen resolutions and color depths. Video cards can have
anywhere from 1 MB all the way up to 128 MB of memory. If youre buying a new
computer, make sure it has at least 64 MB of memory.
3D Graphics Accelerator
A 3D graphics accelerator card has its own CPU that is used to create 3D graphics. If
youre even considering playing games on your computer, you should have a 3D graphics
accelerator card, as most newer games require one.
55
Table 2-7: Common Screen Resolutions

Higher Resolutions Require More Speed and Video Memory
Resolution
Description
No longer supported in most computers, 640 by 480 used to be the lowest
resolution setting. Larger and cheaper monitors have made 640 by 480
resolution effectively obsolete.
640 by 480
800 by 600
This has been the standard resolution setting for most computers, and is the
lowest setting on newer monitors. This is a good in-between resolution,
allowing you to display quite a bit of information on the screen without having
to use a magnifying glass to read it. Use this setting if you have a 15-inch or
17-inch monitor.
1024 by 768
The new standard, 1024 by 768 puts a lot of information on your screen, but
the images can start getting small and difficult to read at this point (unless you
have a large monitor). Use this setting if you have a 17-inch or larger monitor
or when you want to see a lot of information at the same time, for example if
youre working on a large spreadsheet, graphic files, or multiple windows.
Depending on how expensive the graphics card in your computer is, there may
be several higher modes of resolution which continue to display more and
more information and smaller and smaller images.
Higher
resolutions
Quick Reference
Table 2-8: Common Color Depths
More Colors Require More Speed and Video Memory
Color Depth
256 Colors
16-bit
Description
No longer supported on many computers, 256 colors was the standard color
depth years ago, but most computers and video cards are fast enough to run with
more colors without taking a performance hit, making this color depth almost
obsolete.
16-bit color displays roughly 65,000 colors at once. This is the point where
pictures become photo-realistic. This is a good color depth setting because it can
display photo-realistic images without slowing your computer down. You have to
really squint to see much difference between 16-bit color and higher levels of
color depth.
24-bit color displays 16.7 million of colors at once. Depending on how expensive
the graphics card in your computer is there may be several higher modes of color
depth, which continue to display more and more colors on the screen.
24-bit
32-bit color displays 16.7 million of colors at once. 32-bit color is faster and more
efficient than 24-bit color.
32-bit
Screen Resolution:
Determines how much
information can fit on the
computer screen at once.
Common screen
resolutions include
800 by 600 and
1,024 by 768.
Color Depth:
Color depth is the number
of colors that are
displayed on the screen
at once. Common color
depths include 16-bit and
24-bit color.
Video Cards:
Have their own memory
and processor. Generally
speaking, the more
memory a video card has,
the higher the resolution
and color depth it can
display.
56
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-10: Printer Basics

Figure 2-23
InkJet printers are the
most inexpensive and
popular type of printer sold
today.
Figure 2-24
A printers resolution
determines the quality of
the images it can produce.
Figure 2-23
300 dpi
600 dpi
Figure 2-24
A printer is an output device that puts text and graphics on paper. Using the printer is often the
last step in creating something on a computer, whether its a letter, spreadsheet, or digital
photograph.
Unfortunately, theres a lot to know about printersespecially if youre buying one. Here are
the main printer concepts you should know:
Type of Printer
There are several different types of printers out there: InkJet and Laser printers are the
most common. InkJet printers are the cheapest and most common type of printer and can
be found in both homes and businesses. Laser printers are usually faster than InkJet
printers, but they normally can only print in black and white. Laser printers are used
mainly by businesses.
Color vs. Black and White

Color used to be an expensive option for printers, but not any more. Most InkJet printers
can print in color and so can an increasing number of laser printers. Most laser printers
still print in black in whitegreat for text but not for images and graphics.
Resolution
A printers resolution helps determine the quality of the images it can produce. Higher
resolution means higher quality images. Printer resolution is measured in dots per inch
(dpi). Generally, 600-dpi resolution works great for text documents, while you will
probably want 1200 dpi or better resolution for printing images. See Figure 2-24 for a
good illustration of varying resolutions.
Speed
A printers speed determines how quickly it can print pages. Speed is measured two
ways: in characters per second (cps) or in pages per minute (ppm). Either way you want a
higher number if you want to have a faster printer. Printers usually slow down quite a bit
when printing pages with a lot of complicated graphics, or color images.
Ink Cartridges and Toner

Today many InkJet printers are cheapabout as much as dinner for two at a very fancy
restaurant. Sound too good to be true? Heres the catch: the ink for most printers costs a
lot of money. InkJet printers use ink cartridges that seem to run dry at an alarming speed.
Laser printers user toner cartridges filled with the same messy black powder that is found
in copy machines. Laser toner cartridges last a lot longer than InkJet cartridges, but they
also cost significantly more.
Memory
Laser printers have their own memory, or RAM, just like a computer. This memory is
used to store pages before they are printed. Memory is important for printing complex or
high-resolution images. Most laser printers have anywhere from 2 MB to 8 MB of
memory.
Print Buffer and Spooler

Computers are a lot faster than most printers are, so they can send information faster than
the printer can accept it. A printer buffer or spooler fixes this problem. A print buffer
works like a dam: it holds back the information and releases it at a rate that the printer
can handle.
57
Quick Reference
InkJet and Laser printers
are the most common
printer types.
Printer resolution
determines the quality of
the images a printer can
produce. Printer
resolution is measured in
dots per inch (dpi).
A printers speed
determines how quickly it
can print pages.
Printers get their ink from
expensive cartridges
(InkJet printers) and
toners (laser printers)
Many printers have their
own memory, which is
required for printing more
complex images.
A print spooler or buffer
temporarily stores large
print jobs and releases
them when the printer is
able to print them.
58
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-11: Types of Printers

Figure 2-25
There are many different
types of printers available,
with an enormous range of
prices and features.
Figure 2-25
Leonardo da Vinci didnt limit himself by using only paint and brushes to create his
masterpieces; he also used chalk to make sketches and a chisel and hammer to make
sculptures. Maybe Leonardo would have used an airbrush or spray paint if they had been
invented yet. Hmm maybe not. Because there are different types of print jobs there are
different types of printers. Are you a home user that prints an occasional letter or two? Youll
probably want to buy a cheap InkJet printer. Are you a busy office that has lots of people who
need to print lots of documents? Youre probably looking at getting a Laser printer.
The following table describes the main types of printers out there and how or why you would
use them, so youll have no excuse for buying the wrong kind of printer when you get around
to buying one.
Table 2-9: Types of Printers
Printer Type
Description
Inkjet printers are easily the most popular and inexpensive type of printer out
there. If you have a printer for your home computer, chances are its an InkJet
printer. InkJet printers create images by spraying ink onto a page. The
inexpensive InkJet printer gets its ink from very expensive InkJet cartridges.
Ink Jet
Most InkJet printers can print in color, and their speeds vary from 2 to 16 pages
per minute (ppm).
Printer Type
59
Description
Laser printers have blazing speedanywhere from 4 to 20 pages per minute
(ppm), great resolutionanywhere from 300 to 1,200 dots per inch (dpi), and
recently have become relatively inexpensive. Laser printers are great for
businesses and people who need to produce large amounts of text documents
or correspondence.
Laser
Laser printers use the same technology as photocopy machines to create black
and white images on paper. Laser printers use powdered black ink, called toner,
just like photocopy machines do. When the toner cartridge runs out, you have to
replace it with a new toner cartridge. Toner cartridges cost a lot more than
InkJet cartridges do, but they also last a lot longer.
A color laser printer works just like an ordinary laser printer, except that it can
print in color, of course. Color laser printers are quite expensive and the color
toner cartridges for them are even costlier.
Color Laser
As its name implies, a multifunction printer can perform more than one task.
Multifunction printers can usually operate as a fax machine, copier, and scanner
in addition to their traditional printing duties.
Multifunction
Popular in the 1980s, noisy dot-matrix printers have gone the way of the
dinosaurs, except in businesses that need to print on carbon copies.
Dot matrix printers usually use a type of paper with holes punched along each
side called continuous form paper, and loads it through something called a
tractor feed. Dot-matrix printers range in speed from 25 to 450 characters per
second (cps), or 1 to 18 pages per minute (ppm).
Dot Matrix
Resolution is measured differently with dot-matrix printers. Instead of using dot

per inch (dpi) dot matrix resolution is measured by how many little pins are on
the dot-matrix print head. Dot-matrix printers are available with 9-pin (terrible
quality) and 24-pin (higher quality) print heads.
Dont expect to find a plotter at your local computer store. Plotters are special,
very expensive printers that are used to create posters and blueprints.
Quick Reference
Print Types Include:
InkJet
Laser and color laser
Multifunction
Dot matrix
Plotter
Plotter
60
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-12: Sound and Speakers

Figure 2-26
Older computers had a
sound card, which
plugged into the
motherboard of the
computer. Newer
computers have sound
capabilities built into the
motherboard.
Figure 2-27
Figure 2-26
Youll need to connect a

pair of speakers or
headphones to your
computer if you want to
hear sound.
Figure 2-27
The term sound card is a little misleading; sound cards used to be expansion cards that
plugged into a computers motherboard. Although such sound cards still exist, today most
computers have sound capabilities built-it to their motherboards. Either way, a sound card
basically does two things: it plays and records digital sounds.
The types of sounds your computer can play range from the sounds you hear when you turn
on your computer, to explosions in a computer game. A sound card can also play MP3 music
files. An MP3 is a highly compressed sound file that lets you play CD-quality music on your
computer.
While its not nearly as important, sound cards also let you record sounds if you plug in a
stereo or microphone. For example, you could use a sound card to record your aging cassette
tape collection to MP3 files. Newer speech recognition software also requires that you have a
microphone plugged into your computer.
Sound cards have the most confusing ports or jacks on the entire computer. Most of them look
almost exactly the sameespecially if youre crouched in the dark under a desk trying to plug
in a pair of speakers to your computer. The table on the following page might make things a
little easier by describing each of these ports.
Table 2-10: Sound Card Jacks and Ports
Jack
Speaker
Picture
Description
This is the main jack where you connect your speakers or
headphones to hear the sounds produced by the sound card.
Jack
Microphone
Line Out
Line In
Game Port
Picture
61
Description
This jack lets you connect a microphone to your computer so
that you record sounds and use speech recognition software.
You can listen to your computer through your home stereo
system if you plug it into this jack. This is especially useful if
you want to play MP3 files on your stereo.
You can record a cassette, audio CD, or the radio by
plugging a stereo system into this jack.
This port lets you connect a joystick, used for playing games,
to your computer.
Quick Reference
Sound Cards:
Allow computer to play
and record digital sounds.
62
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-13: Modem

Figure 2-28
An internal modem plugs
into an expansion slot
inside a computer.
Figure 2-28
Figure 2-29
An external modem plugs
into a serial port and sits
outside a computer.
Figure 2-30
Most laptops have a
built-in modem.
Figure 2-30
Figure 2-29
Just about every new computer comes with a built-in modem. A modem translates a
computers ones and zeros into audio tones, so that it can transmit information over the phone
lines to other modems. The speed of a modem is measured by how fast it can transmit
information in bits per second (bps).
Quick Reference
Internal: Most computers have an internal modem, like the one shown in Figure 2-28.
Internal modems often plug into an expansion slot and are cheaper than external modems.
External: An external modem, like the one shown in Figure 2-29, plugs in to a
computers serial port. Newer, broadband modem may plug into the USB or Ethernet
port. A broadband modem transmits information directly over a connection, unlike older
traditional modems that have to convert the information to tones or sounds first. Because
of this, broadband modems are very, very fastmuch faster than standard modems. DSL
and Cable are the most common types of broadband connections.
Heres a quick overview of the major types of modems that are available:
Standard Modems:
Table 2-11: Modem Types and Speeds
Broadband and Digital

Modems:
Much faster than standard
modems, with speeds up
to 4,000K bps. Broadband
modems include ISDN,
DSL, and Cable.
Type
Speed (in bps)
Description
Standard
56K
Standard modems connect to a standard telephone line

and are used for dial-up connections to the Internet.
ISDN
56K to 128K
One of the older broadband connections. Its only twice

as fast as a traditional modem and pretty much obsolete.
DSL
256K to 6,000K
DSL modems take advantage of unused frequencies in

the phone line, such as a pause in conversation. DSL
modems are very fast; the problem is that you have to be
close to a phone company in order to get DSL service.
Cable
640K to 4,000K
A cable modem is the fastest modem you can buy for

home use. The problem is your cable company has to
offer cable Internet access in order to use it.
Digital / Broadband
Transmit information over

standard phone lines to
other computers.
Maximum speed is
56K bps.
63
Lesson 2-14: Input/Output

Devices
Figure 2-31
A touch screen monitor is
an example of an
input/output device.
Figure 2-32
A multifunction printer is
another example of an
input (scanner)/output
(printer) device.
Figure 2-32
Figure 2-31
Some computer devices can be categorized as both an input device and an output device. For
example, a multifunction printer, like the one shown in Figure 2-32 has a scanner (input) and
a printer (output). Touch screen monitors are another example of an input/output device; they
display images (output) and also let users interact with the computer by pressing areas of the
screen (input).
Quick Reference
Some computer devices
have both input and
output functions.
Examples include touch
screen monitors and
multifunction printers.
64
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-15: Hard Drive

Figure 2-33
Taxes
Love Letters
Letter to Bill
How information is stored

in a file cabinet.
Investments
Figure 2-34
Letter to Mary
Letters

on a hard disk.
A file cabinets information is

organized and grouped into
folders.
A folder may contain several

files and even several
subfolders.
Figure 2-33
Storage Notes:
Internal Hard Disk
Speed: Very fast. Most hard

disks have an average
access speed of between 8
to 15 milliseconds (ms).
Capacity: Enormous. Many
hard disks have more than
200 Gigabytes (GB) of
storage.
Cost: Hard disks are
becoming more and more
inexpensive. Byte for byte
they are the most
inexpensive way to store
data.
A computer stores
information on a hard disk.
Figure 2-34
Information on a hard disk is

folders or directories.

files and subfolders.
A hard drive or hard disk is a computers main storage device. Most hard drives are tucked
away in the system unit of a computer and hidden from view. Although you normally cant
see a computers internal hard drive you can usually hear it whirring inside when you start the
computer or a program. An external hard drive sit outside the computers system unit and
plugs into a USB, Firewire, or SCSI port.
The hard drive is like the file-cabinet portion of your desk. And files really are saved in
folders on a computer, so this really is the perfect analogy. Most computers have a single hard
drive located inside of the computer case labeled C. When a computer has more than one hard
drive they are labeled D, then E, and so on. Unlike RAM, a hard drive retains its information
even when you turn the computer off.
So whats stored on a hard drive? Lets take a look
Unlike floppy disks and

CD-ROMs, most hard
disks reside inside of
the computer or
system unit and cannot
be easily removed.
Operating System Files

A computers operating system, like Windows XP, is stored on the hard drive.
Program Files
Program files are the programs you work with, like your word processor, your Internet
software, or your games. Programs usually come on floppy disks or CD-ROMs, to use it
first install, or copy, it to your hard drive in order to use the program.
Data Files
Whenever you create a document or data file on your computer, like a word processing
document, the computer stores it in its temporary memory (RAM.) You must save your
documents to the hard drive or they will be lost when you turn off your computer.

Most hard drives are connected to a computers motherboard through something called an
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) connection. You can also connect CD-ROM and DVD
drives to an IDE connection. A slight problem with IDE is that it only supports a total of four
devices or drives. This isnt a big deal for most home users, but it is if youre a business and
need a server with lots of hard drives. So theres another way to connect hard drives to a
computer: through a SCSI (pronouncedget thisscuzzy) port. SCSI connections are often
faster than IDE and they can connect up to seven devices instead of four. SATA (Serial ATA)
connections are currently emerging as the most dominant connection, however.
OK, so what else do you need to need to know about hard drives?
Hard Disk Size (or Capacity)

How much information (how many programs and data) a hard drive can store is measured
in bytes, just like RAM. Hard drive sizes in newer computers range from
20 Megabytes (MB) all the way up to 200 Gigabytes (GB)! How big a hard drive should
you get when you buy a computer? Normally try to get at least 40 Gigabytes if youre a
home or small business user. More is better in hard drives, because programs keep getting
bigger.
Average Access Time

A hard drives average access time is how fast it can find information. Average access
time is measured in milliseconds (ms), or 1/1000 of a second. The lower the access
speed, the faster the hard drive. Most newer computers have an average access time of 8
to 15 ms.
65
Storage Notes:
External Hard Disk
Speed: Very fast, though

normally slower than internal
hard disks.
Capacity: Enormous same
as internal hard disks.
Cost: Slightly more
expensive than internal hard
disks.
Quick Reference
Hard Drive:
A computers main
storage device,
sometimes called the C
drive.
Modern hard drives can
store anywhere from
20GB to 250GB of
information.
Average access time is
how fast a hard drive can
find information.
Hard drives are
connected to a computer
through either an IDE,
SCSI or SATA interface.
66
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-16: Hard Drive

Maintenance
Figure 2-35
Routine hard drive
maintenance keeps
computers happy and
running smoothly.
Figure 2-36
Most hard disk repair tools
can be found in Microsoft
Windows by right-clicking
the hard drive, selecting
Properties from the
shortcut menu, and
clicking the Tools tab.
Figure 2-37
Hard drives need to be
defragmented periodically
to make them more
efficient.
Figure 2-35
Figure 2-36
Create a
fragmentation report
on the selected drive
Defragment the
selected drive
Figure 2-37
Cars require maintenance to keep them running at their peak performance. Some car
maintenance tasks are simple and routine, such as changing the oil every 3,000 miles. Others
are more complicated, such as installing a new radio. Hard drives are no differentthey
require routine maintenance to prevent and/or correct problems and to keep them running at
their best performance.
67
By now youre probably wondering, How does one maintain a hard drive? There are quite a
few ways:
Repair a Hard Drive

Over time, hard drives can become damaged, effecting their performance. Fortunately
most of the hard drive damage is caused by normal wear and tear and is not serious. You
can diagnose and correct most hard drive problems with a hard drive repair program.
Microsoft Windows comes with a built-in hard drive repair program.
Defragmenting a Hard Drive

Normally a computer stores a file in the same location on a hard drive. Over time, a hard
drive can become fragmented, and instead of storing a file in the same location it begins
storing parts of it all over. When the computer needs to read a fragmented file, it must
read several different parts of the hard drive instead of just one. Defragmenting a hard
drive puts the fragmented files back together in one place. You should defragment your
computers hard drive about once a month.
Backing up a Hard Drive

A computers hard drive stores information even when the computer is turn off, but you
should still back up the documents you create to some type of removable storage, like a
CD-RW or tape backup. This will give you an extra copy of your files in case your hard
drive is damaged.
Virus Protection
A computer virus is actually a small computer program written by a malicious person
with the purpose of vandalizing computers by erasing information on their hard drive and
causing other problems. Anti-Virus programs that protect computers against viruses, like
Norton AntiVirus or McAfee VirusScan, are available at most computer stores. If youre
even thinking about connecting to the Internet, you need to have AntiVirus software
installed on your computer.
Hard Drive Compression

A computer can increase space on a hard drive by using a special program to compress,
or squeeze together, the files stored on a hard drive. Most data compression programs can
effectively double the amount of information a hard drive can store. Sounds great, so why
dont many people use disk compression? First, data compression slows your hard drive
because the computer has to uncompress files before it can read them. Second, data
compression often causes more problems in hard drives. Third, several programs wont
run on the computer with compressed hard drives. Dont compress your hard drive unless
you absolutely have to, and even then it might be better to start looking for a new, larger
hard drive than to use data compression.
Make sure you install

antivirus software on
your computer to
prevent malicious
computer viruses.
Quick Reference
Hard Drive Repair and
Fragmentation:
Over time, small errors
and fragmentation can
degrade the performance
of a hard drive. These
problems can be
corrected by a hard drive
utility program.
Hard Drive Backups:
Should be performed to
give you an extra copy of
your files if your hard
drive becomes damaged.
Virus Protection:
Software should be
installed on every
computer to protect
against malicious
computer viruses.
Compression:
Increases the space on a
hard drive by
compressing, or
squeezing together, its
files.
68
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-17: CD-ROM Drive

Figure 2-38
A CD-ROM drive.
Figure 2-39
A CD-ROM drive can also
play the same, great audio
CDs that a stereo system
does.
Figure 2-40
Figure 2-38
Newer CD-ROM drives

can transfer data faster
than older drives, as this
table shows.
CD-ROM
Speed
Transfer
Rate
8x
10x
12x
16x
24x
32x
40x
48x
60x
1,000 KB/s
1,600 KB/s
1,800 KB/s
2,400 KB/s
3,600 KB/s
4,800 KB/s
6,000 KB/s
7,200 KB/s
9,000 KB/s
Figure 2-40
Figure 2-39
Storage Notes:
CD-ROM
Speed: Much slower than a

hard disk, but still faster than
a floppy.
Capacity: About
650 Megabytes (MB).
Cost: Very inexpensive.
Another type of drive almost all computers have is a CD-ROM drive (CD-ROM stands for
Compact Disc-Read Only Memory). CD-ROM drives play CD-ROM discsthe same kind of
compact discs you can play in your stereo system. CD-ROMs can store lots of information: a
single CD-ROM can hold more than 700 Megabytes (MB) of datamore than an
encyclopedia set! Unlike a hard drive, most CD-ROMs can only read informationyou cant
save, or record anything on them (thats what the ROM in CD-ROM stands for: Read Only
Memory!) On the other hand, CD-RW drives can read and write (or burn) to special CD-R and
CD-RW discs (the RW in CD-RW stands for ReWritable.) The CD-ROM drive is usually
labeled D on most computers.
The speed of a CD-ROM drive determines how quickly the computer can read information
stored on the CD-ROM. Faster CD-ROM drives produce better sound and video quality. The
original CD-ROM drive was no faster than an audio CD player, so the speed of all subsequent
CD-ROM drives is measured by how many times faster they are than the original, 1x CDROM drive. Todays CD-ROM drives are up to sixty times (60x) faster than the original.
69
Here are some things you can do with CD-ROMs:
Install Programs
More programs are coming on CD-ROMs because of their large storage capacity. Instead
of installing and copying 20 floppies to your hard drive, you only have to install a single
CD-ROM.
Run CD-ROM Programs

CD-ROM-based programs are usually the coolest programs available for your computer.
CD-ROM programs often have rich, exiting multimedia content: high quality sounds,
music, videos, and animations. For example, a popular CD-ROM program is a complete,
searchable encyclopedia set which contains high quality pictures, sounds, music, and
videos.
Play Audio CDs

Most CD-ROM drives are capable of playing audio CDsthe same kind your stereo
uses! So your computer can play music while you work.
Table 2-12: Types of CDs

CD Type
Description
CD-ROM
The original, standard CD, CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc, Read-Only Memory. What
this means is that you can only read information from a CD-ROM; you cant add new
information.
CD-R
If you have a CD-RW drive you can permanently store information on a CD-R (Compact
Disc-Recordable) disc. The information you write or burn to a CD-R is permanent and
cant be changed or erased.
You can also use CD-R discs to create musical CDs that you can listen to in a stereo
system.
CD-RW
Unlike CD-R discs, a CD-RW (Compact Disc-ReWritable) disc can be written to many
times. You can also modify and erase information on a CD-RW discif you have a
CD-RW drive, of course.
Quick Reference
CD-ROM:
Stands for Compact DiscRead Only Memory. A
CD-ROM drive lets you
install programs, run
CD-ROM based
programs, and play audio
CDs. A CD-ROM holds
about 650MB of
information.
CD-R:
Stands for Compact DiscRecordable. Lets you
permanently write or burn
information.
CD-RW:
Stands for Compact DiscReWritable. Can be
written to and modified
many times.
70
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-18: DVD Drive

Figure 2-41
A DVD disc looks almost
identical to a CD-ROM
disc.
Figure 2-42
The DVD logo.
Figure 2-41
Figure 2-43
A single DVD can store as
much information as
several CD-ROMs.
Figure 2-44
Figure 2-42
A DVD drive can also play

the same, great movies
that you can watch on a
DVD player.
Figure 2-43
Next generation DVD drives are quickly replacing CD-ROM drives in newer computers. A
DVD (stands for Digital Versatile Disc) disc looks just like a CD-ROM, but it can store more
than 4 Gigabytes (GB) of informationas much as seven CDs. There are even rumored to be
future DVD discs that can hold up to 17 Gigabytes! Unfortunately there still really isnt a lot
of software that is available on DVD discs. Most people simply use their DVD drive to watch
DVD movies. The CD-ROM drive is usually labeled D or E on most computers.
Storage Notes:
New rewritable DVD drives, that can record or burn information to special type of DVD discs
have recently become available the market. Unfortunately for the consumer, the greedy DVD
manufacturers couldnt agree on a universal recordable DVD standard, so there are several
different competing formats out there. Hopefully consumers will eventually make the decision
for the DVD manufacturers, like they did between Betamax and VHS videotapes. Until then
there isnt really any clear answer about which recordable and rewritable DVD format to go
with, although both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs work in most newer DVD drives and
players. We can tell you that recordable DVD-RAM format is almost universally not
compatible with most DVD players. Table 2-13: DVD Formats tries to make sense of all the
available formats. For more information on recordable DVD standards, visit
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php on the Web.
DVD
Speed: Faster than a

CD-ROM drive but not as fast
as a hard disk.
Capacity: Usually about
4 Gigabytes (GB), although
future DVD discs are
rumored to hold up to
17 Gigabytes (GB).
Cost: Slightly more than a
CD-ROM but still very
inexpensive.
Figure 2-44
Table 2-13: DVD Formats

DVD Format
Description
DVD-ROM
The original, standard DVD. ROM stands for Read-Only Memory. This means
you can only read information from a DVD; you cant add new information.
DVD-R
If you have a DVD-RW drive you can permanently store information on a

DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) disc. The information you write or burn to a DVD-R is
permanent and cant be changed or erased.
DVD-RW drives can also write to DVD-RW discs
DVD Format
Description
DVD-RW
If you have a DVD-RW drive you can use DVD-RW (ReWritable) discs, which
can be re-written up to 1,000 times. You can also modify and erase information
on a DVD-RW disc. DVD-RW discs have some compatibility problems with
older DVD Players and DVD ROM drives.
71
DVD-RW drives can also write to DVD-R discs.

DVD+R
If you have a DVD+RW drive you can permanently store information on a

DVD+R (DVD+Recordable) disc. The information you write or burn to a DVD+R
is permanent and cant be changed or erased.
DVD+RW drives can also write to DVD+RW discs.
DVD+RW
If you have a DVD+RW drive you can use DVD+RW (ReWritable) discs, which
can be re-written to up to 1,000 times. You can also modify and erase
information on a DVD+RW disc. DVD+RW discs have some compatibility
problems with older DVD Players and DVD ROM drives.
DVD+RW drives can also write to DVD+R discs.
DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM is a rewritable DVD format that can be re-written to many times.

DVD-RAM discs are beginning to look like an orphan format, since they wont
work in most DVD players.
Quick Reference
DVD:
Stands for Digital
Versatile Disc. A DVD disc
looks like a CD-ROM, but
can store much more
information.
Recordable and
Rewritable DVDs:
There are several
competing, noncompatible formats out
there, including DVD-R
/DVD-RW and DVD+R/
DVD+RW.
72
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-19: Floppy Drive

Figure 2-45
A relic of the past, floppy
disks dont have the speed
or capacity to be very
useful in the 21st century.
Figure 2-45
Storage Notes:
Floppy Disk
Speed: Very slow.

Capacity: Very small
1.44 Megabytes (MB).
Cost: Very cheap.
Quick Reference
Floppy Disks:
Are slow and can only
store 1.44MB. They are
all but obsolete.
Most desktop computers still have a floppy drive, although most laptops have dropped the
all-but-obsolete floppy drive. Floppy drives read flat, 3-inch floppy disks. Floppy drives are
as slow as a glacier when compared to hard drives and CD-ROM drives. Floppy disks can
only store a scant 1.44 Megabytes (MB) just a little more than your typical novel.
So why are these relics from the 1980s still around? Floppy disks can still be useful for
transferring and backing up small documents. Some other uses for floppy disks include:
A mini cutting board
An eye patch (for one-eyed software pirates)
A room divider for hamsters
An accessory for aging computer nerds
73
Lesson 2-20: Zip and Jaz Drives

Figure 2-46
A Zip drive can store
100MB or 250MB on
removable Zip disks.
Figure 2-47
A Jaz drive can store 1GB
or 2GB on a removable
Jaz disk.
Figure 2-47
Figure 2-46
Removable storage drives have features of both hard drives and floppy drives. Removable
storage drives work like a floppy drive because they read and write information on small,
removable cassettes that are about the size of a floppy disk. They are like hard drives because
each cassette can usually hold more than 100 megabytes (MB) and is much faster than a
floppy disk, but still not quite as fast as a hard drive. Two of the most popular removable
storage drives are the Zip drive and Jaz drive, both made by Iomega.
Zip disks can store 100 to 250 Megabytes (MB) on a removable diskabout 70 to 170 times
as much as an old floppy disk. Zip drives are available in both 100MB and 250MB versions.
Youll need a 250MB version to read both 100MB and 250MB Zip disks. Zip disks are a great
way to transfer and backup informationbut theyre not much of a value when compared to
newer CD-RW and even newer DVD-RW discs.
Jaz disks can store 1 to 2 Gigabytes (GB) on a single removable diskas much as an older
hard drive! Jaz drives are also fast, though not as fast as a hard disk, so theyre great for
backing up information. Despite their huge storage capacities, Jaz drives really never caught
on.
Storage Notes:
Zip Drive
Speed: Significantly slower

than most hard disks.
Capacity: 100 to
250 Megabytes (MB).
Cost: Expensive when
compared to costs of
equivalent CD-RW discs and
other storage devices.
Storage Notes:
Jaz Drive
Speed: Slower than most

hard disks, but faster than a
Zip disk.
Capacity: 2 Gigabytes (GB).
Cost: Fairly expensive when
compared to costs of
equivalent CD-RW discs and
other storage devices.
Quick Reference
Zip and Jaz drives are
removable storage
devices that have
features of both floppy
and hard disks.
74
Computer Basics
Lesson 2-21: Other Storage

Devices
Figure 2-48
Flash cards are most
commonly used as the
film in digital cameras
and can also be read by
many PDAs and most
computers.
Figure 2-49
Figure 2-49
A tape backup
automatically makes a
copy, or backup, of all the
files on a computers hard
drive.
Figure 2-48
Weve covered the main storage devices that are out there, but it seems as if one or two new
storage devices are invented and released every year; some catch on, some dont. Heres a
run-down on some of the less common storage devices that are out there:
Table 2-14: Other Storage Devices
Device
A tape drive creates copies, or backups, of the files on a computers hard drive
onto a tape cartridge. The backed up files can be restored in case the original
files are lost due to disaster or stupidity.
Quick Reference
Other Storage Devices
Include:
Tape Drive
Tape drives
LS-120 Super drives
Flash cards
Description
LS-120 SuperDrive
USB flash drives
Flash Cards
The LS-120 drive was meant to be an alternative to Zip disks, because it could
store 120 MB of data on a disk, and a replacement for floppy drives, because it
could also read and write to traditional 1.44 MB floppy disks. Unfortunately
LS-120 never really caught on with the general public.
Flash cards are commonly used as the film for digital cameras. Flash cards
can store anywhere from a dozen to several hundred pictures, depending on
how much memory they have. There are three different types of flash cards:
CompactFlash cards, SmartMedia cards, and Memory Sticks. Flash cards can
store anywhere from 4 MB all the way up to 1 GB. Wow!
A USB flash drive is really another type of Flash Card that plugs into a USB
port. USB flash drives range in sizes from 16 MB to 512 MB.
USB Flash Drive
75
Lesson 2-22: Formatting a Disk

Quick (erase)
Erases all information from
the disk, but doesn't scan the
disk for damaged areas. Only
works on disks that have
previously been formatted.
Enable Compression
Formats the volume so that
folders and files on it are
compressed. Compression is
supported only on NTFS
drives.
Figure 2-50
Figure 2-51
Figure 2-50
Most floppy disks and
hard drives come preformatted
Figure 2-51
Formatting a floppy disk in
Microsoft Windows XP.
Create an MS-DOS startup

disk
If youre having problems with
your computer, use a startup
disk to help remedy your
problems.
Floppy disks must be formatted before you can use them. Fortunately, today most floppy
disks you can buy come pre-formatted, so you dont have to do it yourself. When you format
a disk, you erase everything on it and prepare it so that it can be read and used by the
computers operating system. Actually, you can format most storage devices, such as a hard
disks and Zip disks, only youll want to be extra careful about formatting these devices, as
theres a lot more information that will be erased when you format them.
Its easy to format a floppy disk. Heres the procedure for formatting a floppy disk in
Windows XP
1.
2.
3.
Click the Start button and select My Computer.

The My Computer window will display your computers various storage devices.
Right-click the drive containing the floppy disk you want to format
(usually A:), and select Format from the shortcut menu.
The Format dialog box appears. There are several options you can specify when
formatting a floppy disksee Figure 2-51 to see what they are.
Click Start.
The floppy drive will whir as it formats the floppy disk. Formatting a floppy disk
usually takes about a minute, formatting a hard disk takes a long timeover an hour if
you have a slow computer and large hard disk.
Quick Reference
Formatting a Disk:
Prepares it for use, so
that it can be read and
used by the computers
operating system.
Formatting a disk erases
everything on it.
76
Computer Basics
Chapter Two Review

Lesson Summary
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the computers main chip. It calculates and processes
information.
CPU speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz).
Common CPUs include: Intel Pentium III, Intel Pentium 4, Intel Celeron, AMD Athlon, AMD Duron.
Memory
Computers use the binary system, where on is represented by a one (1) and off is represented by a
zero (0).
A Bit is the smallest memory unit. Bit stands for binary digit.
Eight bits make one Byte. A byte equals one character (letter, number, or symbol).
1,024 bytes make one Kilobyte (K or KB) which is equivalent to a one-page, double-spaced letter.
1,048,576 bytes make one Megabyte (M or MB) which is equivalent to a novel.
1,073,741,824 bytes make one Gigabyte (G or GB) which is equivalent to an encyclopedia set.
1,099, 511,627,776 bytes make one Terabyte (T or TB) which is equivalent to a small bookstore.
RAM and ROM
RAM: Stands for Random Access Memory. This is the computers main memory, which is used to
process information. You can read from and write to RAM. RAM is volatile, and any data
disappears when you shut off the computer.
ROM: Stands for Read Only Memory. This is the computers low-level memory, which is used to
perform its most basic functions. You can read from ROM but you cant write to it.
Mouse
A mouse acts as a handheld pointing device and controls the actions of that blinking item on your
computer screen known as a cursor.
Keyboard
A keyboard lets you enter information and commands into a computer.
Digital Cameras and Web Cams
A digital camera lets you take pictures and transfer them to a computer.
77
The quality, or resolution of the pictures a digital camera can take is measured in megapixels, or
millions of pixels (dots). The more pixels, the crisper the image will appear when it is printed.
Other Input Devices
Other input devices include touch pads, AccuPoint pointing devices, track balls, light pens.
scanners, joysticks, and microphones.
Monitors
A CRT Monitor is an older type of monitor that looks like a television screen.
A Flat Panel LCD Monitor is a newer type of monitor that is thin, lightweight and somewhat
expensive.
The size of a monitor is measured diagonally across the screen. Average monitor sizes range from
15-inches to 21-inches.
The monitor refresh rate determines how quickly the monitor redraws, or updates, the image on
the screen. Most monitors have a refresh rate of 72MHz or better.
A screen saver is a moving picture that appears on your computer screen when you dont use
your computer for a while.
Graphics Cards
Screen Resolution determines how much information can fit on the computer screen at once.
Common screen resolutions include 800 by 600 and 1,024 by 768.
Color Depth is the number of colors that are displayed on the screen at once. Common color
depths include 16-bit and 24-bit color.
Video Cards have their own memory and processor. Generally speaking, the more memory a
video card has the higher the resolution and color depth it can display.
Printer Basics
InkJet and Laser printers are the most common printer types.
Printer resolution determines the quality of the images a printer can produce. Printer resolution is
measured in dots per inch (dpi).
A printers speed determines how quickly it can print pages.
Printers get their ink from expensive cartridges (InkJet printers) and toners (laser printers).
Many printers have their own memory, which is required for printing more complex images.
A print spooler or buffer temporarily stores large print jobs and releases them when the printer is
able to actually print them.
Types of Printers
Print types include InkJet, laser and color laser, multifunction, dot matrix, and plotters.
Sound and Speakers
A sound card lets a computer digitally play and record sounds.
78
Computer Basics
Modems
A standard modem transmits information over standard phone lines to other computers and has a
maximum speed of 56K bps.
A broadband or digital modem is much faster than a standard modem, with speeds up to 6,000
Kbps. Broadband modems include ISDN, DSL, and Cable.
Input/Output Devices
Some computer devices have both input and output functions. Examples include touch screen
monitors and multifunction printers.
Hard Drive
A hard drive is a computers main storage device, usually labeled C.
Modern hard drives can store anywhere from 20GB to 250GB of information.
Average access time is how fast a hard drive can find information.
Hard drives are connected to a computer through either an IDE or SCSI interface.
Hard Drive Maintenance
Hard Drive Repair and Fragmentation: Over time, small errors and fragmentation can degrade
the performance of a hard drive. These problems can be corrected by a hard drive utility program.
Hard Drive Backups: Should be performed to give you an extra copy of your files if your hard
drive becomes damaged.
Virus Protection: Software should be installed on every computer to protect against malicious
computer viruses.
Compression: Increases the space on a hard drive by compressing, or squeezing together, its
files.
CD-ROM Drive
CD-ROM: Stands for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory. A CD-ROM drive lets you install
programs, run CD-ROM based programs, and play audio CDs. A CD-ROM holds about 650MB of
information.
CD-R: Stands for Compact Disc-Recordable. Lets you permanently write or burn information.
CD-RW: Stands for Compact Disc-ReWritable. Can be written to and modified many times.
DVD Drive
DVD: Stands for Digital Versatile Disc. A DVD disc looks like a CD-ROM, but can store much more
information.
Recordable and ReWritable DVDs: There are several competing, non-compatible formats out
there, including DVD-R /DVD-RW and DVD+R/ DVD+RW.
Floppy Drive
Floppy disks are slow and can only store 1.44MB. They are all but obsolete.
79
Zip and Jaz Drives
Zip and Jaz drives are removable storage devices that have features of both floppy and hard disks.
Other Storage Devices
Other storage devices include tape drives, LS-120 Super drives, flash cards, and USB flash drives.
Formatting a Disk
Formatting a disk prepares it for use, so that it can be read by the computers operating system.
Formatting a disk erases everything on it.
Quiz
1. The speed of a CPU is measured in what?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz)

Horsepower
Bits per second (Bps)
Lux
2. How much information can be stored in a kilobyte?

A.
B.
C.
D.
As much as a one page letter.

As much as a novel.
As much as an encyclopedia set.
As much as a bookstore.
3. Generally speaking, which of the following storage devices can hold the
most information?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A hard disk
A Zip disk
A CD-ROM
A DVD
4. What is another name for a computers main volatile memory?

A.
B.
C.
D.
RAM
ROM
RUM
Flash
5. You can read and write to a computers ROM. (True or False?)

6. Which of the following modems is the slowest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ISDN
DSL
Cable
Standard
80
Computer Basics
7. Which of the following can you read and write to many times?
A.
B.
C.
D.
CD-ROM
CD-R
CD-RW
DVD-ROM
Quiz Answers
1. A. The speed of the CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is measured in megahertz
(MHz) and gigahertz (GHz).
2. A. A kilobyte holds 1,024 characters; about as much information as a single page
letter.
3. A. A hard disk will generally have more storage capacity than a Zip disk, CD-ROM,
or even DVD.
4. A. RAM or Random Access Memory.
5. False. A computer can read from ROM but not write to it.
6. D. A standard modem is much slower than the other digital modems.
7. C. You can read and write to a CD-RW, or CD ReWritable disc many times.
Chapter Three:
Understanding
Software
Chapter Objectives:
Learn about operating systems
Learn about application software
Learn about word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and more
Learn about programming
This chapter is all about software. Software is a computer program that tells computer
hardware how to operate. Software is even more diverse than hardwarethere are thousands
and thousands of software programs out there. Software ranges from the Windows XP
operating system that manages your computer, to the word processor you use to print letters,
to the Web browser you use to peruse the Internet.
This chapter will give you an incredibly broad overview of the various types of software out
there. Well explain what an operating system does and provide a quick history of various
operating systems. Next well take a quick tour of the most popular types of programs out
there, from word processors to databases. Finally well take a glance at some of the more
common programming languages that are used to write software.
Prerequisites
computers.
82
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-1: Understanding

Graphical User Interfaces
Figure 3-52
Microsoft(R) MS-DOS
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp
The procedure for deleting

a file in a text-based
operating system.
C:\>DEL LETTER.DOC
Figure 3-53
The procedure for deleting
a file in a GUI-based
operating system. Which
is easier?
Figure 3-52
Figure 3-53
Originally, the information on a computer screen was strictly text, and that text was
manipulated using a keyboard. Then computers started using graphical images on the screen
to represent a program or file. Those images are called icons. Along with the introduction of
icons came the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). GUIs allow computer users
to point at pictures and icons and then click the icon to manipulate that program or file, thus
the phrase point and click. Obviously, the mouse is a manifestation of this point-and-click
mentality because the mouse controls the onscreen cursor.
Graphical user
interfaces (GUIs)
allow computer users
to point and click.
Figure 3-52 and Figure 3-53 make a good illustration of how much easier a GUI makes it to
do things, like delete a file. The following table describes some of the most common icons
youll see in the Windows XP GUI.
Table 3-1: Things Youll See in the Windows XP GUI
Quick Reference
A Graphical User
Interface, or GUI, makes
computers easier to
operate by using pictures
and icons to represent
files and programs.
Object
You use the arrow or pointer to point and
click at things.
Click the Start button to access
the programs on a computer.
Double-click My Computer to access
the drives and files on a computer.
The Recycle Bin stores your deleted files.

Click the Close button to close the current
window or program.
Click the Minimize button to temporarily
hide a window or program.
Double-click the Hard Drive to access

the hard drives folders and files.
Click the Maximize button to expand a

window or program to fill the entire screen.
Double-click the CD-ROM Drive to play

or run the contents of the CD-ROM.
A thumbnail displays a tiny preview of a

digital picture or photograph.
Folders hold files and subfolders, just

like a filing cabinet.
Object
Chapter Three: Understanding Software
83
Lesson 3-2: Types of Software

Figure 3-54
Microsoft Windows is an
operating system.
Figure 3-55
Microsoft Excel is an
application program.
Figure 3-56
Not again! Software
manufacturers release
new versions of their
software regularly to add
features and fix bugs (and
line their pockets).
Figure 3-54
Figure 3-56
Figure 3-55
Before we delve into the world of software we need to ask and address a few basic questions:
What is an operating system?

An operating system is a software program that loads automatically and controls just
about everything on your computer. There are a number of operating systems out there,
including MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows XP.
What is an application program?

An application program helps you accomplish a certain task, such as writing a letter,
browsing the Internet, or playing a game. Examples include word-processing programs,
spreadsheets, databases, and games.
Why are new versions of software released year after year?

Software manufacturers will tell you need a new version of their program because it has
new features and fewer bugs. Other people will tell you its so the software manufacturers
can continue to make money year after year. Each software release is given a new name
or number, such as Windows 95, Windows 98, to help distinguish the software from older
versions.
Got it? Great! Lets continue our tour into the world of computer software.
Quick Reference
An Operating System:
Loads automatically and
controls just about
everything on your
computer.
An Application Program:
Helps you accomplish a
certain task, such as
writing a letter, browsing
the Internet, or playing a
game.
New Software Versions
and Releases:
Come out periodically that
add new features to a
programand make its
manufacturers more
money.
84
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-3: Operating Systems

Figure 3-57
MS-DOS is a text-based
operating system from the
Stone Age.
Figure 3-58
Introducing the Start
menu! Microsoft Windows
95 was a very popular
operating system that
features long file names,
better performance, and a
easy-to-use interface.
Figure 3-57
Figure 3-58
An operating system is a software program that loads automatically and controls just about
everything on your computer. Heres what an operating system does:
C:\>
A command prompt is
where you type
commands in MS-DOS.
Controls Your Computers Hardware

Windows controls the different devices of your computer system. Its what makes your
printer print, what makes graphics and text appear on your monitor, and what makes your
mouse point and click.
Runs Your Computers Programs

An operating system is what runs all your programs. Without an operating system, your
word processor, Web browser (Internet), and games wouldnt work. An operating system
lets your programs talk to your hardware, so, for example, your word processor can print
things to the printer.
Organizes Files
An operating system stores information in files and folders on your computers local disk,
just like you store files and folders in a filing cabinet.
An operating system is like an orchestra conductor who makes sure all the parts of your
computeryour hardware and programswork together. Operating systems have been
around for a long timeheres a brief history of the various operating systems out there:
Table 3-2: Types of Operating Systems
Operating System
Released
Description
MS-DOS
1980
MS-DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System.

MS-DOS was one of the earliest PC operating systems
that displayed boring lines of text on the screen instead
of icons and pictures. You performed tasks in MS-DOS
by typing text commands. MS-DOS file names could
only be eight characters long.
Windows 3.1
1992
Windows 3.1 was the first successful operating system

for the PC that featured a GUI (Graphical User
Interface) that used easy to use pictures instead of hardto-remember MS-DOS commands. Technically
speaking, Windows 3.1 was not a true operating system,
since it still required MS-DOS to operate.
85
Operating System
Released
Description
Windows 95
1995
The incredibly successful successor to Windows 3.1,

Windows 95 was a true operating system (no more
MS-DOS). It featured long file names, better
performance, and a greatly improved interface.
Windows 98
1998
Very similar with Windows 95, Windows 98 included

several new and improved features. More importantly,
Windows 98 came with support for many of the new
hardware devices out there.
Windows ME
2000
Windows ME was the successor to Windows 98. ME

stands for Millennium Edition or Mistake Eternal,
depending on who you talk to. Windows ME was very
similar to Windows 95 and 98 but it included new
multimedia features, new utilities and lots of new bugs.
Windows NT
1993
Windows NT (stands for New Technology) was a

powerful 32-bit operating system that was faster, more
secure, and much more stable than Windows 95 or 98.
Windows NT was designed for use in large companies
where stability and security were especially important.
Windows 2000
2000
Windows 2000 was the successor to Windows NT.

Windows 2000 includes the best features of Windows
98 (easy Plug and Play hardware installation) and
Windows NT (security and stability). Windows 2000 is
still widely used in many businesses.
Windows XP Home
2001
Windows XP (stands for eXPeriencehuh?) Home is

designed for home and consumer computing and is the
successor to Windows ME. Windows XP has the same
technology found in Windows NT and 2000, so its much
more stable than earlier versions of Windows.
Windows XP Professional
2001
Windows XP Professional is the business edition of

Windows and is the successor to Windows NT and
Windows 2000.
Quick Reference
Loads automatically and
controls just about
everything on your
computer.
Windows CE / Pocket PC
Varies
Windows CE (stands for Consumer Electronics) is the

operating system made by Microsoft used to power
handheld computers or PDAs (Personal Data
Assistants).
Palm OS
Varies
The Palm OS is another operating system that can be

found on handheld computers or PDAs.
UNIX
Varies
UNIX is an older, very powerful operating system that

can run on a computer, mainframe, or network. UNIX
features great performance, security, and reliability.
Linux
Varies
Linux is a newer UNIX-base operating system that is

available for FREE on the Internet. Linux is becoming a
popular alternative to Microsoft Windows.
Mac OS X
2001
Mac OS X is the latest operating system for Macintosh

computers.
An Operating System
86
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-4: Word Processing

Figure 3-59
A word processor lets you
write letters, resumes, and
much, much more.
Figure 3-59
Perhaps the most widely used and recognized computer application, word processing software
lets you create letters, reports, and many other documents on a computer.
Microsoft Word is the

worlds most popular
word processing
software program.
Quick Reference
A word processor is a
program that lets you
create letters and
documents.
Create Letters and Documents

Whether its a 500 page steamy romance novel or a quick thank-you note to your
neighbor, a word processor makes writing things easier. Best of all, a word processor lets
you change, or edit, the text in a document before it appears on paper. You can easily add,
delete, or rearrange the text in a word processing document. Most word processors also
allow you to check your documents for spelling and grammar errors.
Format Text
Most word processors can make the text in your documents look prettyeven if youre a
terrible writer. For example, you can use various fonts, or typefaces, create bulleted or
numbered lists, and change the alignment of text on the page.
Create Tables
Tables are great: they are ranked right up there with the spell checker as one of the neatest
word processing features. A table neatly arranges text and data in a grid, organized by
columns and rows.
Add Images
Most word processors let you insert pictures and images to create all kinds of neat
documents: newsletters, greeting cards, pamphlets, and more.
Perform Mail Merges

Mail merge letters are used to send the same or similar documents to many different
people at once. Since they contain the recipients name, address, and other information,
mail merge letters feel more personaljust like a typical sweepstake letter: If you have
the winning number, Bob Boyarksi, You are the winner of $10 Million Dollars!
87
Lesson 3-5: Spreadsheets

Figure 3-60
A spreadsheet program is
useful for calculating and
presenting information
even if its not what you
want to see
Figure 3-60
Spreadsheet programs are super-powered calculators. Have you ever found yourself using a
calculator to add together more than 5 or 6 numbers? If so, you probably could be using a
spreadsheet program to make working with numbers faster, easier, and more accurate. You
can also analyze data and make it into charts with a spreadsheet.
Perform Calculations
A spreadsheet can add various cells, perform powerful formulas, and calculate and
analyze information. The entire spreadsheet is updated and recalculated every time you
change a value. That way you can change one number to see how it affects everything
else.
Manage and Organize Information

Spreadsheets neatly arrange values in a grid, organized by columns and rows. You can
use a spreadsheet to present information in a professional and easy-to-read format. You
can also use a spreadsheet to store large collections of data, such as mailing and product
lists.
Format and Present Information

You can enhance the appearance of all those numbers by using various fonts, or
typefaces, borders, shading, and more.
Create Charts
Like the saying a picture is worth a thousand words, charts are often better at
presenting information than hard-to-read numbers in a spreadsheet. A chart illustrates
data, relationships, or trends graphically.
Microsoft Excel is the

worlds most popular
spreadsheet software
program.
Quick Reference
A spreadsheet is a
program that organizes,
calculates, and presents
numbers.
88
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-6: Databases

Figure 3-61
Field Names
A database stores and

manages information
related to a particular
subject or purpose.
Field
A name that
identifies the
information in a
field.
A specific type of
information, such
as the last names
of your
employees.
Record
Figure 3-60
A collection of
information about
one person or
thing, such as the
name and address
of one employee.
In its simplest form, a database is a collection of information that is organized into a list.
Whenever you make a list of information, such as names, addresses, products, or invoices,
you are, in fact, creating a database. Technically speaking, you dont even have to use a
database program to create a database.
A database program, however, is much more powerful than a simple list you keep on paper. A
database program lets you:
Microsoft Access is
the worlds most
popular database
software program.
Store Information
A database stores lists of information that are related to a particular subject or purpose. A
database stores personal information, such as a list of aunt Mildreds home recipes, or
business information, such as a list of hundreds of thousands of customers. A database
also makes it easy to add, update, organize, and delete information.
Find Information
You can easily and instantly locate information stored in a database. For example, you
can find all the customers with the last name Johnson or all the customers who live in
the 55417 Zip code and are older than 65.
Analyze and Print Information

You can perform calculations on information in a database. For example, you could
calculate what percentage of your total sales comes from the state of Texas. You can also
present information in a professional-looking printed report.
Manage Information
Databases make it easy to work with and manage huge amounts of information. For
example, with a few keystrokes you can change the area code for hundreds of customers
in the (612) area code to a new (817) area code.
Share Information
Most database programs allow more than one user to view and work with the same
information at once. Such databases are called multi-user databases.
89
Databases usually consist of several parts. The table on this page identifies the main
components of a database.
Table 3-3: Database Objects
Object
Description
Tables
Tables store a databases data in rows (records) and columns (fields). For
example, one table could store a list of customers and their addresses while
another table could store the customers orders. A database must always
contain at least one table where it can store informationall the other database
objects are optional.
Queries
Queries ask a question about data stored in a table. For example, a query might
ask Access to display only customers who are from Texas.
Forms
Forms are custom screens that provide an easy way to enter and view data in a
table or query.
Reports
Codes
Reports present data from a table or query in a printed format.

Programming codes help you perform routine tasks by automating them into a
single command.
Quick Reference
A database program
stores, manages, and
organizes lists of
information.
90
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-7: Presentation Software

Figure 3-62
Even if your presentation
stinks, a presentation
program can at least make
it look pretty.
Figure 3-62
Microsoft PowerPoint
is the worlds most
popular presentation
software program.
A presentation program turns your ideas into professional, convincing presentations, or slide
shows. If youve ever used an overhead projector, flip chart, or even a black board, youll love
presentation software. A presentation program lets you create slides that include text,
graphics, charts, and even digital movies. Once you have created a presentation, you can
display it as an electronic slide show on any computer.
Create Professional Presentations

There really wasnt much to the movie Star Wars I: Attack of the Clones, but it sure
looked impressive. Presentation software can do the same thing for presentations, making
even the dullest speech look more professional.
Add Drawings, Charts, and Illustrations

Presentations with pictures, graphics, and visuals are much more compelling and
effective at conveying messages than ones that contain only boring text. A presentation
software application like Microsoft PowerPoint makes it easy to add pictures and
drawings to your slides, making them look as though you hired a professional graphic
design company to create them.
Outline What You Want to Say

If you think way back to your high school speech class, you might remember that you
learned to organize a presentation by writing down its major points in an outline (if only
some public speakers could remember this). Most presentation software has built-in
outlining tools to help you organize your presentation. Just remember to stick to that
outline during your presentation!
Quick Reference
A presentation software
program is used to
create professional,
convincing presentations,
or slide shows.
91
Lesson 3-8: Accounting

Figure 3-63
Accounting software, like
Intuits Quicken or
QuickBooks (shown
below) can help you pay
bills, balance your bank
account, and even
perform payroll.
Figure 3-63
Personal finance and accounting software keep track of your personal or business finances. A
personal finance program can show you what your current checking, savings, or credit card
balances are, where youre spending your money, and will even help you reconcile your
account when you get a bank statement. Business accounting programs go a step further
they will create invoices, keep track of your receivables and payables, and even do payroll.
Once you use a personal financing program for your home finances or an accounting program
for your business, youll never know how you ever got along without one.
Balance Your Checkbook and Manage Finances

Accounting software automatically keeps a running balance of your bank accountsif
you remember to enter your checks and deposits. If you dont, many account programs
can download your banking statements.
Write Checks and Pay Bills

You can purchase special checks that you print out on your computers printer to save
time and present a more professional image.
Create Invoices
If you run a business, an account program can print invoices and keep track of who owes
you money.
Perform Payroll
Many accounting programs have a payroll module, which deducts, and tracks Social
Security, Medicare, and state and federal employee taxes.
Bank Online
Online banking lets you view your current checking and savings balances, pay bills, and
even accept online credit card payments.
QuickBooks is a very
popular accounting
software program for
small businesses.
Quick Reference
Accounting software
helps manage personal
and/or business finances
and balance accounts.
92
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-9: Web Browsing

Figure 3-64
A Web browser lets you
view Web pages on the
Internet.
Figure 3-64
Web addresses and pages are everywhereon television advertisements, in magazine and
newspaper articles, and even on business cards. Together, these Web pages make up what is
know as the World Wide Web (WWW) or Web for short. To view a Web page youll need a
piece of software called a Web browser. Luckily you wont need to buy a Web browser, since
it comes standard on most computers. In fact, Microsoft has spent a considerable amount of
money and time in court determining that Windows is actually a Web browser.
Quick Reference
A Web browser allows
users to view Web pages
on the Internet.
Browse and View Web Pages

Web pages are written in a simple language called HTML, which stands for Hypertext
Markup Language. A Web browser converts the HTML in a Web page into a readable
format and displays that information on your computer screen.
Find Information
You can use a search engine to find just about anything on the World Wide Web. A search
engine catalogs the billions of Web pages on the Internet so that you can find information
on the topics that interest you. Google and Yahoo are two of the most popular search
engines out there.
Download Files
The Internet is filled with files and programs that you can download, or save to your
computer. You can download images and pictures, programs, even MP3 files that you can
listen to.
Shop
You can spend lots of money on the World Wide Web. Anything that you can buy in a
store you can probably buy on the Internet. People use the Internet to shop for books,
computers, clothes, and even cars.
93
Lesson 3-10: Web Authoring

Figure 3-65
Web Authoring software
can help you create
spectacular Web pages,
like the newsletter shown
here.
Figure 3-65
A few years ago, only the brainy computer types knew how to write their own Web pages.
Today Web authoring programs make it easy for even a novice to get their own Web site up
on the Internet for the whole world to see.
Create Web Pages

All those pretty Web pages you visit on the Internet are written in a simple language
called HTML (stands for HyperText Markup Language). Its actually possible to create a
Web page by writing it directly in HTML using a simple text editor or word processor,
but most people use Web Authoring software because its so powerful and easy to use.
Insert Images
Web Authoring software makes it easy to add pictures and graphics to a Web page,
whether its a professional logo for a corporate Web site or a fake photograph for an
online dating service.
Add Hyperlinks
You can easily add hyperlinks to a Web page that point to other sites of interest on the
Internet.
Publish Your Web Pages to the Internet

A Web site isnt any good if people cant see it. Most Web Authoring programs have tools
to help you upload, or save your Web pages on to the Internet.
Macromedia
Dreamweaver is a very
popular Web authoring
software program.
Quick Reference
A Web Authoring
program lets users
create Web pages in
HTML that they can then
publish to the Internet.
94
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-11: Programming

Languages
Figure 3-66
Microsoft Visual Basic lets
users create programs
using a graphical
programming environment
and painting metaphor.
Figure 3-66
All software programs, from Microsoft Windows XP to Word 2000 are written in a
programming language. A programming language is a vocabulary and set of grammatical
rules for instructing a computer to perform specific tasks.
Computers can only understand special machine languages, which consist almost entirely of
numbers. Humans, however, cant understand these huge series of numbers, so they use highlevel programming languages, such as C++ and Java to write software programs and then
translate or compile them into machine language.
Every language has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, FORTRAN is a good
language for processing numbers, but its not well suited to for large programs. C++ has
powerful object-oriented features, but it is complex and difficult to learn. There are literally
hundreds, if not thousands, of programming languages out there. The following table briefly
describes some of the more common programming languages you might overhear computer
nerds discussing.
Table 3-4: Common Programming Languages
Language
Description
Machine Language
The lowest-level programming language, machine languages can be read by

computers, but are almost impossible for humans to use because they consist
entirely of numbers.
Assembly Language
Assembly languages have the same structure and set of commands as

machine languages, but they enable a programmer to use names instead of
numbers when writing code.
Description
SQL
SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a standardized language for

requesting information from a database.
BASIC
Acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, BASIC is one

of the earliest and simplest high-level programming languages and was taught
by educators to students during the 1970s and 80s.
C, C++
A high-level programming language developed in the mid-1970s, it is still one

of the most popular programming languages in use today. C is similar
assembly language and allows programmers to write very efficient code. C++
adds many object-oriented features to its predecessor, C.
COBOL
COBOL, or Common Business Oriented Language, was developed back in the

late 1950s, and despite its age is still used on many mainframe computers.
FORTRAN
Acronym for formula translator, FORTRAN is the oldest high-level

programming language. Despite its age, FORTRAN is still popular for scientific
applications that require extensive mathematical computations.
Web Development
Object-Oriented
High-Level
Language
Java
An object-oriented language developed by Sun Microsystems, similar to C++,

but simplified to eliminate language features that cause common programming
errors. Compiled Java code can run on most computers, including UNIX,
Macintosh, and Windows. Small Java applications called applets can be
downloaded from the Internet and run on your computer.
Visual
Basic
Based on BASIC, Microsoft Visual Basic allows users to create programs with
a graphical programming environment and painting metaphor. Visual Basic, or
VB, is sometimes called an event-driven language because each object can
react to different events such as a mouse click.
ASP, JSP
Active Server Pages and Java Server Pages are programming languages that
generate dynamic HTML code and send it back to the browser.
HTML
HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the authoring language used to

create documents, or Web pages on the World Wide Web. HTML defines the
structure and layout of a Web document by using tags and attributes.
JavaScript
A scripting language that enables Web authors to design interactive sites.

Javascript can interact with HTML source code, enabling Web authors to spice
up their sites with dynamic content.
Perl
Short for Practical Extraction and Report Language, Perl is a programming

language designed for processing text.
PHP
An open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to

create dynamic Web pages.
XML
Short for Extensible Markup Language, XML allows designers to create their
own customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and
interpretation of data between applications and between organizations.
95
Quick Reference
A programming
language is a vocabulary
and set of grammatical
rules for instructing a
computer to perform
specific tasks.
96
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-12: Systems

Development
Figure 3-67
Define Requirements
Possible steps in
developing a computer
system.
Feasibility Study
System Design and Cost

Analysis
Programming/
Product Development
Testing
Installation
Training
Monitoring and Maintenance

Figure 3-67
Computer programs and systems dont appear out of thin air; there are a series of procedures
that are normally followed. The steps and procedures for system development are very
similar, whether its a small company replacing its employee time clock with a computerized
attendance system or a huge software company releasing a new software program.
Table 3-5: Common Stages in System Development
Stage
Description
Define Requirements
Determine the purpose of the system, all inputs, outputs, and control
mechanisms.
Stage
Description
Feasibility Study
Determine if the system is economically and technically practical.
System Design and

Cost
Create an action plan or blueprint for creating the system, and determine
how much the system will cost.
Programming/
Product Development
Write the programs necessary for the system using a high-level

programming language. Purchase any hardware required by the system.
Testing
Test the completed system using real data to identify and correct any bugs.
Implementation
Install the completed system and put it to use.
Training
Train users on how to use or operate the new system.
Monitoring and
Maintenance
Problems usually arise soon after implementation that must be corrected.

Computer systems often require upgrades and routine maintenance.
97
Quick Reference
Common Steps in
Systems Development:
1. Define Requirements
2. Feasibility Study
3. System Design and Cost
4. Programming/Product
Development
5. Testing
6. Implementation
7. Training
8. Monitoring and
Maintenance
98
Computer Basics
Chapter Three Review

Lesson Summary
Understanding Graphical User Interfaces
A Graphical User Interface, or GUI, makes computers easier to operate by using pictures and
icons to represent files and programs.
Types of Software
An operating system loads automatically and controls just about everything on your computer.
An application program helps you accomplish a certain task, such as writing a letter, browsing the
Internet, or playing a game.
New software versions and releases come out periodically that add new features to a program
and make the software manufacturers rich!
Operating Systems
An operating system loads automatically and controls just about everything on your computer.
Word Processing
A word processor is a program that lets you create letters and documents.
Spreadsheets
A spreadsheet is a program that organizes, calculates, and presents numbers.
Databases
A database program stores, manages, and organizes lists of information.
Presentation Software
A presentation software program is used to create professional, convincing presentations, or

slide shows.
Accounting
Accounting software helps manage personal and/or business finances and balance accounts.
Web Browsing
A Web browser allows users to view Web pages on the Internet.
99
Web Authoring
A Web Authoring program lets users create Web pages in HTML that they can then publish to the
Internet.
Programming Languages
A programming language is a vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer
to perform specific tasks.
Systems Development
Common Steps in Systems Development

1. Define Requirements
2. Feasibility Study
3. System Design and Cost
4. Programming/Product Development
5. Testing
6. Implementation
7. Training
8. Monitoring and Maintenance
Quiz
1. An operating system is built-in to a computers ROM-BIOS. (True or False?)
2. Which of the following is a text-based operating system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Windows 95
Windows 2000
Windows CE
MS-DOS
3. Which of the following programs would be best suited for helping you
calculate a monthly budget?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A word processor
A spreadsheet
A database
COBOL
4. Which of the following programs would be best suited for storing a list of
customers and their orders?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A word processor
A spreadsheet
A database
COBOL
Quiz Answers
1. False. An operating system is software that the computer loads when it first starts up.
100
Computer Basics
2. D. MS-DOS is a text-based operating system.

3. B. A spreadsheet would be the program best suited to help you balance your budget.
4. C. A database would be best suited for storing a list of customers and their orders.
Chapter Four:
Information
Networks
Chapter Objectives:
Learn about networks
Learn the difference between a LAN and WAN
Learn the basics about the Internet
Learn what Intranets and Extranets are
Understand telephone networks used to connect to the Internet
This chapter will give you an incredibly brief look into the world of networking. A network is
several computers, printers, and other devices that are connected together. When you think of
a network, you probably think of how your computers are connected at workand thats
definitely one type of network. But did you know that the Internet itself is one vast network?
Well cover these topics and more in this chapter.
Prerequisites
computers.
104
Computer Basics
Lesson 4-1: Introduction to

Networks
Figure 4-1
The parts of a network
(see Table 4-1: Network
Components for a
description of everything)
Shared files
Workstation
Figure 4-2
Network Interface
Card (NIC)
In a peer-to-peer network,
everyone stores their files
on their own computer.
Anyone on the network
can access files stored on
any other computer.
Cable
Shared files
Workstation
Figure 4-3
Figure 4-2
Hub
In a client/server network,
everyone stores his or her
files on a central computer
called a server. Everyone
on the network can access
the files stored on the
server.
Shared files
Workstation
Peer-To-Peer Network
Sever
Shared files
Network Software
(Windows 95, 98, NT,
2000, XP and possibly
Novell Netware)
Figure 4-1
Workstation
Figure 4-3
Workstation
Client/Server Network
So what are the benefits of networking? Plenty:
A Local Area Network

(LAN) connects
computers in the same
building or facility.
Share Information: Networks allow you to share files and programs. Before networks,
people had to save their files on floppy disks to exchange information. This wasted a lot
of timeespecially if the computers were located in opposite ends of the building!
Share Equipment: Computers connected to a network can share equipment to reduce

costs. For example, rather than buying a printer for each computer, everyone can share
one central network printer.
Chapter Four: Information Networks
105
Use Network Software: Software designed for networks lets people send and receive
electronic mail (e-mail) with other users on the network, schedule meetings with other
users on the network, and share databases. When youre browsing the Web, youre
actually using software designed for a network!
There are two basic types of networks:
Local Area Networks (LAN): A network that connects computers in the same
geographic area or building, using cables. Local Area Networks are what most people
think of when they think of a networkand thats what well be discussing throughout
the chapter.
Wide Area Networks (WAN): A network that connects computers across a large
geographic area. The Internet is actually a huge Wide Area Network.
Local Area Networks (LANs) are subdivided into two types of network subcategories:
peer-to-peer and client/server, as shown in Figure 4-2 and Figure 4-3:
Peer-to-Peer Network or Workgroup: In a peer-to-peer network, everyone stores

their files on their own computer, and anyone on the network can access files stored on
any other computer. Because you dont need any additional software, peer-to-peer
networking is an inexpensive way to connect computers in a small office or home. The
disadvantages of a peer-to-peer network are that it doesnt offer as much security as
client/server networks, and it can be difficult to find files that are stored on many
different computers. Both versions of Windows XPHome and Professionalsupport
peer-to-peer networking.
Client/Server Network: In a client/server network, everyone stores their files on a
central computer called a server. Everyone on the network can access the files stored on
the server. Client/server networks are more secure, easier to administer, and much more
powerful than peer-to-peer networks. Thats why they are used to connect computers in
most businesses. The disadvantages of client/server networks are that they require
special, expensive software, such as Windows XP Server or NetWare, and they are more
complicated to install and configure than peer-to-peer networks. Only Windows XP
Professional supports client/server networking.
Figure 4-1 shows the basic parts in a network. The following table explains what they are:
Table 4-1: Network Components
Component
Description
Network Interface
Card (NIC)
A network interface card is a device that plugs into your computer and
physically connects each computer to the network and allows your computer to
talk to other computers and devices on the network.
Cables
Cables are the wires that physically connect the computers, printers, and other
equipment on a network.
Hub
A hub is a device where all the cables on a network connect, similar to a power
strip.
Network Operating
Software
Your operating system must provide networking capabilities. Windows XP and

Windows XP Professional have peer-to-peer networking capabilities. Windows
XP Professional and NetWare have client/server capabilities.
A Wide Area Network

(WAN) connects
computers over wide
geographic areas. The
Internet is an example
of a WAN.
Quick Reference
LAN:
Stands for Local Area
Network and connects
computers in the same
geographic area or
building, using cables.
WAN:
Stands for Wide Area
Network and connects
computers across a large
geographic area.
Peer-to-Peer/Workgroup:
Files and resources are
shared on every
computer. Easier to setup
but very insecure.
Client/Server Network:
Files are stored on a
single central computer,
or server. More secure
and expensive.
106
Computer Basics
Lesson 4-2: The Internet

Figure 4-4
WWW
The Internet is the largest

network in the world,
consisting of millions of
computers, all over the
world, all connected
together.
Headlines
Figure 4-5
Web pages are stored on
Web serverscomputers
that are permanently
connected to the Internet.
Amazon
WWW
Figure 4-4
Figure 4-5
The Internet is the largest computer network in the world. It consists of millions of computers
all over the planet, all connected to each other.
The Internet was born in the 1960s when the United States military worried that a nuclear
bomb could destroy its computer systems (there werent many of them back then). So it
placed several computers far apart from each other and connected them with some super-fast
telephone lines so that the computers could talk to each other. If a nuclear bomb blew up one
computer, another computer could instantly take over; thus, the computer network wouldnt
go down. Years passed and other organizations, such as colleges and universities, started
connecting their computers to this growing network to share information.
Although the Internet has been around a long time, it wasnt until the 1990s that someone
thought of a wonderful idea called the World Wide Web. Many people use the terms Internet
and World Wide Web or Web interchangeably, but in fact the terms are two separate but
related things. The Internet is a massive network of networks that connects millions of
computers to one another. A good analogy would be the cables that provide cable television.
The World Wide Web is simply one way to communicate and share information over the
Internet. Using our cable television analogy, the World Wide Web would simply be single
channel that is broadcast over the cable system.
The World Wide Web consists of millions of documents that are stored on hundreds of
thousands of computers that are always connected to the Internet. These documents are called
Web pages, and you can find Web pages on every subject imaginablefrom your local
newspaper to online catalogs to airline schedules, and much, much more.
Web pages are stored on Web servers. A Web server is a computer, not unlike your own
computer, only bigger and faster. There are hundreds of thousands of Web servers located all
over the world. Web servers are always connected to the Internet so that people can view their
Web pages 24 hours a day.
So what can you do once youre connected to the Internet? Plenty. Table 4-2: What Can I do
on the Internet? shows just a few of the many things there are to do on the Internet.
107
Table 4-2: What Can I do on the Internet?

Task
Description
Send and Receive

E-mail
Exchanging electronic mail (or e-mail) is the most used and most popular
feature on the Internet. Just like regular paper mail, you can send and
receive e-mail with people around the world, as long as they have access
to a computer and the Internet. Unlike regular paper mail, e-mail is usually
delivered to its destination almost instantly.
Browse the World Wide

Web
The World Wide Web is what most people think of when they think of the
Internetalthough its really only a part of the Internet. The World Wide
Web is an enormous collection of interconnected documents stored on
Web servers all over the world. The World Wide Web has information on
every subject imaginable.
Join online discussions

with newsgroups
Newsgroups are discussion groups on the Internet that you can join to read
and post messages to and from people with similar interests. There are
thousands of newsgroups on topics such as computers, education,
romance, hobbies, politics, religion, and more.
Chat with other online

users
Chatting lets you communicate with people on the Internet instantlyno

matter how far away they are! Most chats are text-based, meaning you
have to type when you converse with people on the Internet. A growing
number of chats have voice and even video capabilitiesall without having
to pay long distance changes.
Download software
You can download pictures, demo programs, patches and drivers for your
computer, and many other types of files and save them to your computer.
Listen to music and

watch videos
You can listen to sound on the Web, such as radio stations, or music by
your favorite artists.
Quick Reference
Internet:
computer network in the
world, connecting millions
of computers.
World Wide Web:
A way of accessing
information over the
Internet.
108
Computer Basics
Lesson 4-3: Intranets and

Extranets
Figure 4-6
An Intranet is a miniature
version of the Internet that
works within a company or
organization.
Figure 4-7
An Extranet is also like a
miniature version of the
Internet, but Extranets are
accessible to authorized
users outside of a
company or organization.
Figure 4-6
Figure 4-7
An Intranet is a miniature version of the Internet that works within a company or

organization. Web sites on an Intranet look and act just like any other Web sites, but can only
be viewed by users within the company or organization. A firewall surrounds the Intranet and
fends off unauthorized access.
An Extranet is similar to an Intranet, but while an Intranet is generally only accessible to users
within same company or organization, an Extranet is accessible by authorized outside users.
Business partners use Extranets to share information.
Like the Internet itself, Intranets and Extranets are used to share information. Secure Intranets
are now the fastest-growing segment of the Internet because they are much less expensive to
build and manage than private networks based on proprietary protocols.
109
So what are the advantages of Intranets and Extranets? Both Intranets and Extranets can:
Share Information: Intranets and Extranets offer a very simple and inexpensive way to
make internal company documents, such as a phone directory, available to employees.
Connect Documents: Documents on an Intranet or Extranet can be connected by

hyperlinks, so users can easily jump from one related document to another.
Use Special Software: Some software can only be used on an Intranet or Extranet,
such as Web based e-mail programs.
Quick Reference
Intranet:
A miniature version of the
Internet that works on a
network within a company
or organization.
Extranet:
A miniature version of the
Internet that allows
access to authorized
outside users, such as
business partners.
110
Computer Basics
Lesson 4-4: Telephones and

Networks
Figure 4-8
An internal modem plugs
into an expansion slot
inside a computer.
Figure 4-8
Figure 4-9
An external modem plugs
into a serial port and sits
outside a computer.
Figure 4-10
Most laptops have a
built-in modem.
Figure 4-9
Figure 4-10
A modem is a device that translates a computers ones and zeros into audio tones, so that it
can transmit information over the phone lines to other modems. The speed in which a modem
can transmit and receive data is measured in bits per second (bps), or baud. For example, a
300-baud modem can transmit 300 bits per second. The most common way people use
modems is to connect to the Internet. By the way, modem stands for modulator-demodulator.
Modems come in two basic flavors:
Analog Modems: Computers store information digitally, while telephone lines transmit
conversations and sounds. An analog modem converts a computers ones and zeros to
tones than can then be transmitted over standard phone lines. Analog modems are limited
to speeds of 56Kbps.
Digital Modems: Use binary ones and zeros to transmit data like a computer. Digital
modems can transmit information much faster than analog modems. Digital modems are
often referred to as broadband modems.
Table 4-3: Modem Types and Speeds describes the most common analog and digital modems
out there.
111
Table 4-3: Modem Types and Speeds

Speed (in bps)
Description
PSTN, PSDN
56K
PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network,

and is nothing more than your everyday, ordinary
telephone system based on copper wires. PSTN is often
referred to as POTS, or plain old telephone service.
PSDN stands for Public Switched Data Network and is
just another technical term for the telephone system in
use today.
ISDN
56K to 128K
One of the older broadband connections. Its only twice

as fast as a traditional modem and pretty much obsolete.
ADSL, DSL
256K to 8,000K
ADSL modems take advantage of unused frequencies in

the phone line, such as a pause in conversation. DSL
modems are very fast; the problem is that you have to be
close to a phone company in order to get DSL service.
Digital, Broadband
Analog
Type
Cable
640K to 4,000K
A cable modem is the fastest modem you can buy for

home use. The problem is your cable company has to
offer cable Internet access in order to use it.
Quick Reference
Analog Modem:
Converts a computers
ones and zeros to tones
that can then be
transmitted over standard
phone lines. Analog
modems are limited to
speeds of 56Kbps.
Digital Modem:
Uses binary ones and
zeros to transmit data like
a computer. Digital
modems can transmit
information much faster
than analog modems.
PSTN, PSDN:
Ordinary, everyday
telephone network, limited
to 56Kbps.
ISDN:
An older broadband
connection, twice as fast
as a traditional modem at
128Kbps.
ASDL, DSL:
Fast digital connection
with speeds up to
8,000Kbps.
Cable:
Fast digital connection
with speeds up to
4,000Kbps.
112
Computer Basics
Chapter Four Review

Lesson Summary
Introduction to Networks
LAN: Stands for Local Area Network and connects computers in the same geographic area or
building, using cables.
WAN: Stands for Wide Area Network and connects computers across a large geographic area.
Peer-to-Peer/Workgroup: Files and resources are shared on every computer. Easier to setup but
very insecure.
Client/Server Network: Files are stored on a single central computer, or server. More secure and
expensive.
The Internet
Internet: The Internet is the largest computer network in the world and connects millions of
computers.
World Wide Web: A way of accessing information over the Internet.
Intranets and Extranets
Intranet: A miniature version of the Internet that works on a network within a company or
organization.
Extranet: A miniature version of the Internet that allows access to authorized outside users, such
as business partners.
Telephones and Networks
An analog modem converts a computers ones and zeros to tones that can then be transmitted
over standard phone lines. Analog modems are limited to speeds of 56Kbps.
A digital modem uses binary ones and zeros to transmit data like a computer. Digital modems can
transmit information much faster than analog modems.
PSTN, PSDN: Ordinary, everyday telephone network, limited to 56Kbps.
ISDN: An older broadband connection, twice as fast as a traditional modem at 128Kbps.
ASDL, DSL: Fast digital connection with speeds up to 8,000Kbps.
Cable: Fast digital connection with speeds up to 4,000Kbps.
113
1. A LAN connects computers in the same building or facility. (True or False?)

2. What does LAN stand for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Linked Area Network

Lots of Anarchy and Nonsense
Local Area Network
Linked Applications Node
3. An Intranet is a miniature version of the Internet that allows access to

authorized outside users, such as business partners. (True or False?)
4. Which of the following modems is the slowest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ISDN
DSL
Cable
Standard
Quiz Answers
1. True. A LAN connects computers in the same building or facility.
2. C. LAN stands for Local Area Network.
3. False. An Extranet is a miniature version of the Internet that allows access to
authorized outside users, such as business partners
4. D. A standard modem is much slower than the other digital modems.
Chapter Five:
Introduction to
Windows XP
Chapter Objectives:
Start and log on to Windows
Understand the Windows XP screen
Understand the new Windows XP interface
Use the mouse to: point, click, double-click, right-click, click,

and drag
Use the keyboard
Exit Windows and turn off the computer
Welcome to Windows XP! If youre new to Windows, or to computers altogether, youre

starting at the right chapter. This chapter covers the bare-bones basics about learning how to
start your computer and load Windows. Youll learn how to operate the mouse by clicking,
double-clicking, clicking and dragging, and right-clicking. Youll also learn about your
computers keyboard and what those cryptic-looking keys are used for. Finally, youll learn
how to exit Windows and shut down your computer.
Before we start, take a deep breath and relax. You may find this difficult to believe, but
computers arent nearly as difficult and complicated as you probably think they are. No matter
what your previous experience with computers has been, this chapter assumes youre the most
computer-illiterate person in the world and keeps everything as simple as possible. Actually,
youre probably going to find that some of the lessons in this chapter are a little too easy.
When you come across something you already know how to do, go ahead and skip the lesson
(unless youre in a classroom of coursethen go ahead and show everyone what a computer
whiz you are!).
Ready? Did you take that deep breath? Then turn the page and lets get started!
Prerequisites
Windows XP installed
on the computer.
118
Microsoft Windows XP
Lesson 5-1: Starting and Logging

On to Windows XP Home
Figure 5-1
The Welcome screen is
the default log in screen.
Figure 5-2
The Log On to Windows
dialog box appears if the
Welcome screen has been
turned off.
To log in, click your user

account.
Figure 5-1
Quick
Enter the account user name and

password.
If the account does not have a
password, leave the text box blank.
Reference
To Log On To Windows XP
Home Using the Welcome
Screen:
Click your account user
name. Enter your account
password if prompted.
To Log On To Windows XP
Home Without the
Welcome Screen:
1. Enter your user name and
password. If your account
doesnt have a password,
leave the text box blank.
Or
2. Press <Enter> or click
OK.
Figure 5-2
After taking off your jacket and grabbing a cup of coffee, you probably begin your day by
turning on your computer and starting Windows. Windows XP should automatically start after
you turn on your computer. This lesson also explains what you need to do next...
The default log in screen is the Welcome screen, as shown in Figure 5-1.
1.
2.
3.
Click your account user name.

If your account has a password, you will be prompted to enter it.
NOTE: If someone has turned off the Welcome screen, logging in will be a little
different, as shown in Figure 5-2.
Enter your user name and password. If your account doesnt have a
password, leave the text box blank.
Remember that when you enter your password, Windows will display a series
of ******s to protect your password from prying eyes.
Press <Enter> or click OK.
Windows logs in using your account settings.
Chapter Five: Introduction to Windows XP
119
Lesson 5-2: Starting and Logging

On to Windows XP Professional
Figure 5-3
The Welcome to Windows
dialog box.
Figure 5-4
The Welcome to Windows
dialog box.
Figure 5-3
Enter your user name and

password.
Specify the computer or domain
you want to log on to.
Figure 5-4
Click Options to display/hide the Log on

To list, which lets you specify which
network domain you want to log on to.
Logging on to a computer using Windows XP Professional is a little different because you are
logging in to a network, not just a computer, so security needs to be tight.
The first screen is a defense against hackers or worms that might try to hack into your
computer while youre not using it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Press <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Delete>.

The Welcome to Windows dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 5-4.
Enter your user name and password.
Remember that when you enter your password Windows will display a series
of ******s to protect your password from prying eyes.
If necessary, click Options and click the Log on To list arrow to select
the domain name that you want to log on to.
This setting probably wont ever change, but you should be aware that it is required to
log in to the domain.
Quick
Reference
To Log On to Windows XP
Professional:
1. Press <Ctrl> + <Alt> +
<Delete>.
2. Enter your user name and
password.
3. Make sure you are
logging in to the correct
domain.
4. Press <Enter> or click
OK.
Press <Enter> or click OK.

Presto! Youre logged on to Windows XP and are ready to get back to work.
120
Lesson 5-3: Understanding the

Windows XP Screen
Figure 5-5
Recycle
Bin
The major parts of the

Windows XP screen. More
items may appear on your
computer, depending on
how it is set up.
Desktop
System
Tray Area
Start
button
Quick Launch bar
Taskbar
Figure 5-5
You might find the Windows screen a bit confusing and overwhelming the first time you see
it. Nothing on the screen appears familiar to youwhere do you even start? This lesson will
help you become familiar with the main Windows screen, known as the desktop. There isnt a
step-by-step exercise anywhere in this lessonall you have to do is look at Figure 5-5 and
then refer to Table 5-4: Major Parts of the Windows XP Screen, to see what everything youre
looking at means. And, most of all, relax! This lesson is only meant to help you get
acquainted with Windowsyou dont have to memorize anything.
NOTE: If youre upgrading to Windows from previous versions, you may be
surprised at the lack of icons and features on the screen. Dont be alarmed:
My Documents, My Computer and other useful functions are still around,
theyve just been moved under the Start button.
121
Table 5-4: Major Parts of the Windows XP Screen

Item
Description
Desktop
This is the large background area of the Windows screen. You can customize the
desktop by adding shortcuts to your favorite programs, documents, and printers.
You can also change the appearance of the desktop to fit your mood and
personality.
Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin stores all the files you delete from your computer. You can use the
Recycle Bin to retrieve files youve accidentally deleted. Create more disk space by
emptying the Recycle Bin.
Taskbar
The Taskbar usually appears at the bottom of your screen and contains the famous
Start button, which you use to start your programs. Whenever you open a program,
document, or window, an icon for that program appears on the taskbar. This lets
you see which programs are currently running and allows you to easily switch
between them.
Start button
The Start button lets you quickly open your programs and documents. You can also
use the Start button to find files and change the settings for Windows.
Quick Launch
bar
The Quick Launch bar gives you quick access to your most frequently used
applications. Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and the Windows desktop are
included in the Quick Launch bar by default.
Dont worry if you find some of these things confusing at firstthey will make more sense in
the upcoming lessons, after youve actually had a chance to use them.
122
Lesson 5-4: A Look at the New

Windows XP Start Menu
Figure 5-6
The current user name

appears at the top of the
Start menu.
The new Windows XP

Start menu.
The right side of the Start

menu gives you quick
access to your documents,
files, and system settings.
You can also find three very
important icons here that
were found on the Desktop
in previous versions of
Windows:
This area displays the

programs you use
most often. If a
program doesnt
appear here you can
find it under All
Programs.
My Documents
Provides a convenient
location to save your
files.
My Computer
Displays all the
available drives on
your computer.
Lists all the programs

that are installed on
your computer.
My Network Places
Displays the network
locations available on
your computer.
Figure 5-6
Youve probably already noticed that Windows XPs Start menu is drastically different than
the Start menu in earlier versions. All the icons that were formerly stored on the desktop, such
as My Computer and My Documents, are now on the Start menu, making it your single source
for launching applications, finding documents, and changing computer settings.
The new Windows XP Start menu takes a lot of getting used toespecially if youre familiar
with the Start menu in previous versions of Windows. Once again, there isnt a step-by-step
exercise in this lessonall you have to do is look at Figure 5-6 and then refer to Table 5-5:
Items in the Windows XP Start Menu, to see what everything in the new Windows XP Start
menu does.
1.
2.
Click the Start button.

The Windows XP Start menu appears, as shown in Figure 5-6.
Keep the Start menu open and refer to Table 5-5: Items in the Windows XP
Start Menu to find out whats new in the Windows XP Start menu.
The new Windows XP Start menu takes a lot of getting used toespecially if youre familiar
with the Start menu used in earlier versions of Windows. Dont worry if you just cant get
used to the new Windows XP Start menuits easy to change back to the classic Start menu
that youre more familiar withwell cover that very topic in another chapter.
123
Table 5-5: Items in the Windows XP Start Menu
Right Side
Left Side
Item
Description
Internet Explorer
Opens your Internet browser.
Outlook Express
Opens your default e-mail software.
Recently Used Programs
Gives you quick access to the programs you use most often. If a
program doesnt appear here you will have to look under All
Programs.
All Programs
Gives you access to all the programs installed on your computer,

although you may have to wade through several submenus in
order to find the program youre looking for.
My Documents
Provides a convenient location to save your files. In previous

versions of Windows, My Documents was located on the Windows
Desktop.
Recent Documents
Opens files you have recently worked on.
My Pictures
Provides a convenient location to save your photos and pictures.
My Music
Provides a convenient location to save your music files.
My Computer
Gives you access to the drives, folders, and files on your

computer. In previous versions of Windows, My Computer was
located on the Windows Desktop.
My Network Places
Access the drives, folders, and printers on the network. In

previous versions of Windows, My Network Places was located on
the Windows Desktop.
Control Panel
Opens the Windows Control Panel.
Connect To
Connects to the Internet or a network.
Set Program Access

and Defaults
Sets the default programs that handle certain activities on your

computer.
Printers and Faxes
Shows installed printers and faxes. Also provides access to

wizards that help install new printers and faxes.
Help and Support
Gets help on how to use Windows.
Search
Finds a file on your computer.
Run
Runs a program.
Log Off
Logs off of Windows so that another user can log on to your

computer.
Shut Down
Provides options for turning off or restarting your computer.
124
Lesson 5-5: Using the Mouse:

Pointing, Clicking and
Double-clicking
Figure 5-7
Clicking and doubleclicking with the mouse.
Figure 5-8
Click!
Click
Press and
release the left
mouse button.
Click the Start button to

open the Windows XP
Start menu.
Figure 5-9
Double-click the Recycle
Bin icon to open it and
display its contents.
Click!
Click!
Double-click
Quickly press and
release the left
mouse
button twice, in rapid
succession.
Figure 5-7
Clicking and doubleclicking

with the
Click!
mouse.
Click!
Figure 5-8
Click!
Figure 5-8
Close button
Click the Start button

to open the Windows
XP Start menu.
Figure 5-9
Double-click the
Recycle Bin icon to
open it and display
Figure 5-9
its contents.
Just like you control your television set using a remote control, you control Windows by using
the mouse and keyboard. A mouse is a palm-sized device that lets you point at, select, and
move objects on your computer screen. The mouse is linked to the pointer on your computer
screenwhen you move the mouse on your desk, the pointer moves on the computer screen.
Think of the mouse as an electronic extension of your hand. This lesson will show you how to
perform the two most basic mouse actions: clicking, and double-clicking.
Mouse Pointer
1.
Rest your hand on top of the mouse, then move the mouse and watch as
the arrow moves across the screen.
The arrow (also called the cursor or pointer) follows the mouse as you move it across
the desk or mouse pad.
Pointing is the most basic action you can do with the mouse. To point to something,
simply place the mouse pointer over it by moving the mouse.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Move the mouse pointer until the tip of the pointer is over the Start
button. Leave the pointer there for a few seconds.
The message Click here to begin appears by the pointer after several seconds.
Clicking means pressing and releasing the left mouse button one time. The mouse
makes a clicking noise whenever you press and release one of its buttons, hence the
term clicking. The next steps will show you how to open the Start menu by clicking
it.
125
Start button
Move the pointer over the Start button and then click the left mouse
button.
When you click the Start button, the Windows XP menu pops up, as shown in Figure
5-8. Congratulations! Youve just made your first click!
NOTE: Most mice have two mouse buttons. Normally you will use the left mouse
button (unless someone has changed the mouse options and reversed the
buttons!). You can assume that you will use the left mouse button whenever
you see the words click or double-click. The right mouse button has its own
purposeand well discuss it in an upcoming lesson.
You can close the Windows XP Start menu without selecting anything by clicking
anywhere outside the menu.
Move the pointer anywhere outside the Windows XP Start menu and click
the left mouse button.
Now that youre feeling comfortable with pointing and clicking, well move on to
something a little more tricky: double-clicking. Just as it sounds, double-clicking
means pressing and releasing the mouse button twice in rapid succession. You will
usually open an object, such as a file, folder, or program by double-clicking it.
Position your pointer over the Recycle Bin icon and double-click it with
your left mouse button.
The Recycle Bin opens to reveal its contents, as shown in Figure 5-9.
NOTE: A lot of people have problems the first time they try double-clicking. If your
double-click doesnt seem to work, its probably because youre either not
holding the mouse steady while youre double-clicking, or youre not doubleclicking fast enough. If you click the mouse button too hard, you may
accidentally slide the mouse before youve finished double-clicking and your
double-click wont register. If youre certain that youre holding the mouse
steady while you double-click, you can adjust the double-click speed in the
Windows Control Panel, which well talk about more in a later lesson.
Close the Recycle Bin window by clicking its Close button, as shown in
Figure 5-9.
Table 5-6: Things you can click and double-click

Click when you want to:
Double-click when you want to:
Select something.
Open a file.
Open a menu.
Open a folder.
Press a button on a toolbar or a control in a dialog

box.
Display the properties or settings for an object (in

certain programs).
Recycle Bin
Close button
Quick Reference
To Point:
Move the mouse so that
the pointer is over the
object.
To Click:
Point to the object and
press and release the
mouse button.
To Double-click:
click the mouse button
twice in rapid succession.
Move to the area or field you want in a program or

dialog box.
126

Clicking and Dragging
Figure 5-10
Hold down the mouse

button while you drag the
mouse across your desk.
Clicking and dragging with

the mouse.
Figure 5-11
Opening a game of
Solitaire.
Figure 5-12
The Solitaire game, which
comes with Windows.
Drag
Place the pointer over an object and press
and hold down the left mouse button. While
you are still holding down the button, move
the mouse to where you want to place the
object and then release the mouse button.
Figure 5-10
Clicking and
dragging with the
mouse.
Figure 5-11
Figure 5-11
Close button
Opening a game of
Solitaire.
Figure 5-12
The Solitaire game,
which comes with
Windows.
Figure 5-12
You can move items around your computer screen by clicking and dragging them with the
mouse. To click and drag something: (1) Move the mouse pointer over the object you want to
move, then click and hold down the mouse button. (2) While you are still holding down the
mouse button, move the mouse until the pointer is over the place you want to put the object.
Then, (3) release the mouse button.
Start button
This will probably be the most entertaining lesson in the book, because your assignment is to
master clicking and dragging by playing a game of Solitaire! Microsoft included Solitaire
with Windows to help people improve their mouse skills. Youve probably noticed that a lot of
people never stop practicing these skills with Solitaire. Heres how to open Solitaire:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Remember the Start button is located in the bottom-left corner of your screen. The
Windows XP Start menu appears.
Point to the word All Programs.
The All Programs menu pops out to the right.
Point to the word Games.
Another menu, the Games menu, pops out, as shown in Figure 5-11.
Click the word Solitaire.
Youre finally there! The Solitaire program opens, as shown in Figure 5-12.
127
You may have trouble

mastering click and
drag right away. Dont
get discouraged; this
is a tricky task for
beginners. Just keep
practicing and youll
improve.
Play a game of Solitaire and practice clicking and dragging the cards.
If you dont know how to play Solitaire, you can still practice your clicking and
dragging. Just point to a card, click and hold down the mouse button, and move the
card around the screen. Release the mouse button to drop the card. If you try dropping
a card in an invalid location, the card will be whisked back to its original pile.
Click the Close button located in the top right corner of the Solitaire
program to exit the program when youve finished playing.
The Solitaire program closes.
Close button
Okay, there have to be more things to click and drag besides cards! Although well be
covering this stuff later on, Table 5-7: Things you can click and drag gives some examples of
when you can use click and drag.
Table 5-7: Things you can click and drag
You can do this:
By dragging this:
Move a window to a new

location on the screen.
Drag the window by its title bar and drop it in a new location on the
screen.
Move a file to a new folder.
Drag the file and drop it in the desired folder.
Change the size of a window.
Drag the borders or corners of the window.
Scroll a window to see

something located offscreen.
Drag the scroll box (the little elevator) up or down the scroll bar and
drop it in a new location.
Move just about anything on

your computers screen.
Point to the object, click, and hold down the mouse button, drag the
object to a new place, and then release the mouse button.
Quick Reference
To Click and Drag:
1. Point to the object you
want to click and drag and
click and hold down the
mouse button.
2. While youre still holding
down the mouse button,
drag the object to the
desired location on the
screen.
3. Release the mouse
button.
128

Right-clicking
Figure 5-13
Click!
Right-clicking with the

mouse.
Right-click
Press and release
the right mouse
button.
Figure 5-14
Figure 5-14
The shortcut menu for the

Recycle Bin.
Figure 5-15
Figure 5-13
The shortcut menu for the

clock.
The shortcut menu

for the Recycle Bin.
Figure 5-15
Figure 5-16
The Local Disk (C:)
Properties dialog box.
Figure 5-15
Figure 5-16
You already know that the left mouse button is the primary mouse button, used for clicking
and double-clicking, and its the mouse button you will use over 95 percent of the time when
you work with Windows. So whats the right mouse button used for? Whenever you rightclick something, it brings up a shortcut menu that lists everything you can do to the object.
Whenever youre unsure or curious about what you can do with an object, point to it and click
it with the right mouse button. A shortcut menu will appear with a list of commands related to
the object or area you right-clicked.
Right mouse button shortcut menus are a great way to give commands to Windows because
you dont have to wade through several levels of menus to do something.
1.
Recycle Bin
Right-click an object
to open a shortcut
menu of commands for
the object.
Move the pointer over the Recycle Bin icon and click the right mouse
button.
A shortcut menu appears with a list of commands related to the Recycle Bin, as shown
in Figure 5-14.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
129
Point to and click the Empty Recycle Bin option on the shortcut menu
with the left mouse button.
You still use the left mouse button to select menu items, even if they are found in a
right-mouse button shortcut menu. A dialog box appears, asking you if you are sure
you want to delete the contents of the Recycle Bin. Better play it safe and
Click No with the left mouse button.
Next, you realize the clock displayed on the far right side of the taskbar is ten minutes
fast. You can display the clocks properties by right-clicking the clock.
Move the pointer over the clock, located on the far right end of the
taskbar, and click the right mouse button.
Another shortcut menu appears, with commands related to the Windows clock, as
shown in Figure 5-15.
Notice one of the commands listed on the shortcut menu is Adjust Date/Time. You
would select this menu item if you needed to adjust the date and/or time. But you dont
want to adjust the date or time, so you can move on to the next step and close the
shortcut menu without selecting anything.
Click anywhere outside the shortcut menu with the left mouse button.
The final object well right-click in this lesson is the computers Local Disk drive. To
get to the Local Disk Drive you have to open My Computer.
Click the Start button. Click My Computer from the menu.
The My Computer window opens, displaying the contents of your computer. You want
to see how much space is left on your computers local disk.
Right-click the Local Disk (C:) icon.
A shortcut menu appears, with a list of commands related to the local disk.
Click the Properties option on the shortcut menu with the left mouse
button.
A dialog box appears, showing a graph that illustrates how much space is left on your
hard drive, as shown in Figure 5-16.
Click Cancel.
The dialog box closes.
Youre done! Youve learned all the actions you can perform with the mouse: pointing,
clicking, double-clicking, clicking and dragging, and right-clicking. What an
accomplishment!
Windows clock
My Computer
Local Disk (C:)

icon
Quick Reference
To Display an Objects
Shortcut Menu:
click the right mouse
button. Select items from
the shortcut menu with
the left mouse button.
To Close a Shortcut Menu
Without Selecting
Anything:
Click anywhere outside
the shortcut menu with
the left mouse button, or
press the <Esc> key.
130
Lesson 5-8: Using the Keyboard

Figure 5-17
Function keys or F keys
Esc key
A standard keyboard
(Your computer may have
a slightly different layout
than the one pictured
here).
Esc
~
`
Figure 5-18
!
1
F2
F3
F4
@
2
#
3
$
4
%
5
Tab
Caps
Lock
The Shut Down Windows

dialog box.
F1
Shift
W
A
S
Z
R
D
F5
^
6
T
F
&
7
Y
G
F6
*
8
U
H
F7
(
9
I
J
F8
F10
)
0
O
K
F9
+
=
>
.
Print
Screen
Scroll
Lock
Backspace
Insert
Home
Page
Up
Delete
End
Page
Down
}
[
:
;
L
<
,
F12
F11
|
\
]
"
'
?
/
Pause
Enter
Shift
Num
Lock
Caps
Lock
Scroll
Lock
Num
Lock
Home
End
PgUp
PgDn
Enter
Ctrl
Alt
Ctrl key Start key
Figure 5-17 Alt key
Alt
Shift key
Ctrl
Ins
Shift key Alt key Start key
.
Del
Numeric keypad
Ctrl key
Arrow keys
Figure 5-18
Now that youve mastered the mouse, its time to move on to the other device that you use to
control your computer: the keyboard. The keyboard may seem more familiar and easy to use
than the mouse at first, but dont be fooled! Computer keyboards sneak in some extra keys
that are very useful. This lesson explains what these extra keys on the keyboard are and when
to use them.
1.
2.
Press and hold down the <Alt> key, press the <F4> key, then release
both keys.
Pressing these keys commands the current program to close. Since youre using the
Windows Desktop, the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears, as shown in Figure
5-18.
Were not ready to shut Windows down just yet . Follow the next step to back out of
the Shut Down Windows dialog box without selecting anything.
Press the <Esc> key.
Pressing <Esc> does the same thing as clicking the Cancel button. The Shut Down
Windows dialog box disappears and youre back at the Windows desktop.
Table 5-8: Special Keys and Their Functions describes the <Alt> and <Esc> keys you just
used, as well as some of the other confusing keys on the keyboard.
131
Table 5-8: Special Keys and Their Functions

Key(s)
Description
The <Alt> key doesnt do anything by itselfit needs another key to make things
happen. For example, pressing the <Tab> key while holding down the <Alt> key
switches between any programs that are currently running.
Just like the <Alt> key, the <Ctrl> key doesnt do anything by itselfyou need to
press another key along with it to make things happen. For example, pressing the
<X> key while holding down the <Ctrl> key cuts whatever is selected.
The <F1> key is the Help key for most programs. Pressing it displays helpful
information about what youre doing and answers your questions about the
program.
The <Esc> (Escape) key is the Wait, Ive changed my mind! key. Its function is
the same as clicking Cancel in a dialog box. For example, if you click something
and an unfamiliar dialog box appears, you can close it by pressing the <Esc> key.
The <Enter> key is the Carry out my orders key. Its function is the same as
clicking OK in a dialog box. For example, after youve typed the name of a
program you want to run in a dialog box, press <Enter> to run the program. The
<Enter> key also adds new lines and starts new paragraphs if youre entering text.
When youre in a dialog box, pressing the <Tab> key moves to the next field.
When youre using a word processor, the <Tab> key works just like youd think it
would: it jumps to the nearest tab stop whenever you press it.
The arrow keys move your computers cursor on the screen.
Quick Reference
Nothing surprising here. The <Delete> key deletes or erases whatever you
selectfiles, text, or graphical objects. If youre working with text, the <Delete>
key erases characters to the right of the insertion point.
To Use a Keystroke
Combination:
The <Home> key jumps to the beginning of the current line when youre working
with text.
Press and hold down the

first key, press the second
key, then release both
keys. For example, press
the <Tab> key while
youre holding down the
<Alt> key.
The <End> key jumps to the end of the current line when youre working with text.
To Use the Special Keys

on the Keyboard:
Use the <Backspace> key to fix your typing mistakesit erases characters to the
left of the insertion point.
The <Page Up> key moves up one screen.
Refer to Table 5-8:

Special Keys and Their
Functions.
The <Page Down> key moves down one screen.
132
Lesson 5-9: Exiting Windows and

Turning Off Your Computer
Figure 5-19
The Shut Down Windows
dialog box.
Click the list arrow and

select Shut down
...then click OK.
Figure 5-19
At the end of the day when youve finished using your computer, you need to shut down
Windows before you turn your computer off. Shutting down gives Windows a chance to tidy
up after itself, saving information in the computers memory to the local disk, cleaning up
temporary files, and verifying that youve saved any changes you made to any files you
worked on.
Start button
Should I turn my computer off at all? One of the great computer debates is whether you
should turn your computer off at all. Some people turn off their computer whenever theyre
finished with it, just like a television set. Others dont turn their computers offever. People
who turn their computers off at night say that keeping the computer on 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week wears out the computers mechanical components and wastes electricity. Other people
say that leaving your computer on keeps temperature fluctuations down, which is better for
the computers delicate internal components. Plus, most new computers enter a standby or
hibernate mode after a period of time, so they dont really consume that much power. Which
method is best? Thats a decision youll have to make on your own. Some people turn their
home computer off when they finish using it and leave their office computer on 24 hours a
day.
Whether or not you turn your computer off, you should always follow the next few steps
when you shut down your computer.
1.
Shut Down button
Other Ways to Shut
Down:
Press <Ctrl> + <Alt> +
<Delete> and click
Shut Down.
2.
3.
Save all your work and exit all your programs.

Saving any files youve been working on is the most important step of all when you
shut down your computer. You should also consider backing up any vital information if
you have a tape backup, Zip drive, or other backup device. You can also save any
important files to a disk.
The Start menu appears.
Click the Shut Down button in the Start menu.
The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 5-19.
4.
5.
133
Click the What do you want your computer to do? list arrow and
select Shut down from the list. Click OK.
The computers hard drive hums as Windows cleans up and shuts itself down.
NOTE: Leaving nothing to chance, Windows checks to make sure youve saved
everything youve been working on, such as documents you created in your
word processing program. If Windows notices you havent saved a file, it asks
if you want to save the changes you made to the file before it begins the shut
down procedure.
Eventually Windows finishes shutting down and turns off your computer.
Make sure your computer and monitor are off.
Congratulations! Youve completed the chapter and are well on your way to mastering
Windows XP! Youre probably wondering What were those other Shut Down options for?
Table 5-9: Shut Down Windows Options explains them:
Table 5-9: Shut Down Windows Options
Shut Down Option
What it Does
Stand by
Use Stand by if you have a laptop and are going to leave your computer
briefly but want to conserve as much energy as possible while you are
away. After you return your computer to its original running state, you will
be able to pick up exactly where you left off. (Make sure you save
everything you were working on first!)
Shut down
Use this option if you want to turn your computer off. It saves your
Windows settings and saves any information stored in memory to the
local disk.
Restart
Saves any Windows settings, writes any information stored in your

computers memory to the local disk, and restarts your computer. Use
this option if Windows or your Windows-based programs start acting
flaky. You often have to restart your computer after installing new
software.
Log Off As
This option appears only if your computer is connected to a network.

This option closes all your programs and disconnects your computer
from the network, preparing your computer to be used by someone else.
Hibernate
Hibernate goes one step further than Stand by, allowing you to keep
programs and documents open and shut off power. Hibernate saves
your desktop status to the hard disk so the power can be turned off.
Quick Reference
To Shut Down Windows:
1. Save any files youve
been working on and exit
all your programs.
2. Click the Start button
and click the Shut Down
button in the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <Alt> +
<Delete> and click Shut
Down.
3. Click the What do you
want your computer to
do? list arrow and select
the Shut Down option
from the list. Click OK.
134
Chapter Five Review

Lesson Summary
Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Home
To Log On To Windows XP Home Using the Welcome Screen: Click your account user name.
Enter your account password if prompted.
To Log On To Windows XP Home Without the Welcome Screen: Enter your user name and
password. If your account doesnt have a password, leave the text box blank. Press <Enter> or
click OK.
Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Professional
To Log On To Windows XP Professional: Press <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Delete>. Enter your user
name and password. Make sure you are logging in to the correct domain. Press <Enter> or click
OK.
Understanding the Windows XP Screen
Be able to identify the main components of the Windows screen.
A Look at the New Windows XP Start Menu
Be able to identify the new components of the Windows XP Start menu.
Using the Mouse: Pointing, Clicking and Double-clicking
To Point: Move the mouse so that the pointer is over the object.
To Click: Point to the object and press and release the left mouse button.
To Double-click: Point to the object and click the left mouse button twice in rapid succession.
Using the Mouse: Clicking and Dragging
Point to the object you want to click and drag and click and hold down the mouse button. While
youre still holding down the mouse button, drag the object to the desired location on the screen
and then release the mouse button.
Using the Mouse: Right-clicking
To Display an Objects Shortcut Menu: Point to the object and click the right mouse button.
Select items from the shortcut menu with the left mouse button.
To Close a Shortcut Menu Without Selecting Anything: Click anywhere outside the shortcut
menu with the left mouse button, or press the <Esc> key.
135
Using the Keyboard
To Use a Keystroke Combination: Press one key while holding down the other key. For example,
press the <Tab> key while holding down the <Alt> key.
Exiting Windows and Turning Off Your Computer
To Shut Down Windows: Save any files youve been working on and exit all your programs. Click
the Start button and click the Shut Down button in the menu, or press <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Delete>
and click Shut Down. Click the What do you want your computer to do? list arrow and select
the Shut Down option from the list. Click OK.
Quiz
1. Microsoft Windows is a (an):
A.
B.
C.
D.
Word processing program.

Database program.
Operating System.
Graphics program.
2. Windows uses only the left mouse button. (True or False?)

3. How do you move the pointer to another location onscreen?
A. Press the arrow keys on the keyboard.
B. Move the mouse until the pointer points to that spot.
C. Move the mouse until the pointer points to that spot and then click the left mouse
button.
D. Move the mouse until the pointer points to that spot and click the right mouse button.
4. A keystroke combination is:
A. Pressing two or more keys at the same time.
B. A way to lock your computer to prevent unauthorized access. To unlock the
computer, simply retype your keystroke combination.
C. Using the keyboard in conjunction with the mouse.
D. A type of mixed drink.
5. To display a shortcut menu for an object, do the following:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Point to the object and press <Ctrl> + .

Touch the object onscreen with your finger.
Click the object.
Right-click the object.
6. The <F1> key displays help on whatever it is that youre working on. (True
or False?)
Homework
1. Turn on your computer and start Windows XP.
136
2. Find, point to, and click the Start button, then close the Start menu without selecting
anything.
3. Find and double-click My Computer.
4. Shut down Windows by selecting Shut down from the Start menu, verifying the Shut
down option is selected, and clicking the OK button.
Quiz Answers
1. C. Microsoft Windows is an Operating System.
2. False. Windows uses both the left and right mouse buttons.
3. B. Move the pointer by moving the mouse until the pointer points to that spot.
4. A. A keystroke combination is when you press two or more keys at the same time. For
example, pressing the <Shift> and <Tab> keys simultaneously.
5. D. Right-click the object.
6. True. Pressing the <F1> key displays help on whatever it is that youre working on.
Chapter Six:
Working with a
Window
Chapter Objectives:
Starting a program
Understanding the parts of a window
Minimizing, maximizing, and restoring a window
Moving and closing a window
Changing the size of a window
Switching between several programs
Tiling and cascading windows
No doubt about it: computers are sophisticated, complex machines. To make computers easier
to use, Microsoft designed Windows to operate how you work at the desk in your office.
When you work at your desk, you spread everything out, grab a piece of paper, work on it for
a while, and then shuffle another piece of paper on top of it. Thats how Windows works,
except instead of working with papers, you work with windowsboxes that contain programs
and information.
You can shuffle these windows around the screen just like you shuffle papers on your desk
which is why the main Windows screen is called the desktop. Just like your desk, if youre
working with a lot of things at the same time, the Windows desktop can become messy and
difficult to find things on.
This chapter explains how to manage the windows and programs on your screen. First, youll
learn how to open a window. Next, youll discover the parts that constitute a window (which
are A LOT different than the ones on your house). Then youll learn how to change the size of
a windowminimizing it to a tiny little icon that appears only on the Taskbar and maximizing
it so that it fills the entire screen. Youll also learn how to shuffle windows around, sending
some to the background and bringing others up to the forefront. Lets get started!
Prerequisites
How to start and shut
down Windows
How to use the mouse
to click, double-click,
drag and drop, and
right-click
138
Computer Basics
Lesson 6-1: Starting a Program

Figure 6-1
Click on the Start button to
open the menu, and then
point to All Programs to
open the menu.
Figure 6-2
Click on Accessories to
open the menu, and then
click on WordPad to open
the program.
Figure 6-3
The WordPad program
Figure 6-1
Figure 6-2
Any programs that are currently

running appear as icons on the
taskbar
Figure 6-3
Start button
To do just about anything with your computer, you need to run a program. A program is a
complex set of instructions that tells your computer how to do something. Your word
processor is a program, and so is the Solitaire game that comes with Windows. The easiest
way to start a program is by clicking the Windows Start button and then selecting the program
from the All Programs menu. This lesson explains one of the most basic operations you can
do with Windows: starting a program.
1.

Remember that the Start button resides in the bottom-left corner of the computer
screen. The Start menu pops up.
Chapter Six: Working with a Window
2.
3.
4.
139
Point to All Programs.

A menu listing the different program categories pops out above the Start menu, as
Point to the word Accessories.
Another menu, the Accessories menu, shoots out to the side of the All Programs menu,
as shown in Figure 6-2. The program you want to load, WordPad, is in the Accessories
menu. Can you find it?
Click the word WordPad.
The WordPad program appears on the screen in its own window, as shown in Figure
6-3. WordPad is a simple word processing program that is included with Microsoft
Windows.
NOTE: The All Programs menu is merely a list of the programs that should be
available on your computer. When installed, programs should automatically
add themselves to the Start menu. Occasionally, old MS-DOS programs or
programs that are poorly written may not put themselves on the Start menu
when you install them, and you will have to find and add the program to the
All Programs menu yourself. Youll learn how to manually add programs to
the Start menu in an upcoming lesson.
Great! Youve just started your first program. Turn the page and well examine the parts of the
WordPad window.
All Programs
Accessories
WordPad program
Most programs run in

their own separate
window on the screen.
Quick Reference
To Start a Program:
1. Click the Start button.
2. If the program appears on
the Start menu click it,
otherwise point to the All
Programs option.
3. Click the menu and any
submenus where the
program you want to run
is located.
4. Click the name of the
program you want to run.
140
Computer Basics

Parts of a Window
Figure 6-4
The parts of a typical
window
Minimize
button
Title bar
Maximize
button
Close button
Menu
bar
Toolbars
Main
Window or
Document
Area
Status bar
Figure 6-4
Located in every window are several little buttons, menus, and controls that you use to control
the program and window. Because they appear in every Windows program, youre going to
have to learn what these little buttons, menus, and controls are and learn how to use them.
Heres the good news: once you can find your way around a window for one program, youll
be familiar with the windows for most programs since this window/menu/button concept
appears in just about every Windows program.
There are no exercises or homework for you in this lessonits just here to help you become
familiar with the parts of a window. All you have to do is look at Figure 6-4 and then refer to
Table 6-1: Parts of a Window to identify what youre looking at.
And dont worry; youll get a chance to play with some of these buttons and menus later on.
141
Table 6-1: Parts of a Window

Part
Description
Title bar
Displays the name of the program or window
Minimize button
Minimizes a window, hiding it from your screen but keeping it running in your
computers memory, ready for quick use. You can minimize a program youre
not using so that it is still running, but is out of sight.
Maximize/Restore
button
Depending on the size of the window, this button toggles between maximize
and restore. Heres what each one does:
Maximize: Enlarges the window so that it fills the entire screen. This lets
you see more of the windows contents. The Maximize button only
appears when the window isnt maximized (doesnt fill the entire screen).
Restore: When a window is maximized (fills the entire screen), clicking
the Restore button returns the window to its previous size.
Close button
Closes the window or program when youre finished working with it, removing it
from the screen and the computers memory.
Menu bar
Controls what the program does. The items listed on the menu bar change from
program to program, but the menu bars location doesntits always perched
near the top of a window, right below the Title bar.
Toolbar
Some (but not all) windows and programs have one or more toolbars, which
contain buttons you point and/or click to access frequently used commands.
Main Window or
Document Area
This is where all the action takes placewhere you work on whatever youre
working on. If you were using a word processor, this is where your letter would
appear. If you were browsing the Internet, this is where the Web pages would
appear.
Status bar
Displays information such as instructions, messages about the state of the

computer, or your location in the window.
Got everything down? Dont worry if you dont; this lesson is just a quick-guided tour of a
typical window. The rest of the lessons in this chapter focus on how to use a windows
controls, buttons, and menus.
142
Computer Basics
Lesson 6-3: Minimizing,

Maximizing, and Restoring a
Window
Figure 6-5
Minimize
button
The Minimize, Maximize,

and Restore buttons
appear in the upper right
corner of most programs.
Maximize button (or

Restore button if the
window is already
maximized)
Figure 6-6
A window in a restored
state only fills up part of
the screen.
Figure 6-5
Figure 6-7
Figure 6-6
A window in a maximized
state fills up the entire
screen.
Figure 6-8
A window in a minimized
state appears only as an
icon on the taskbar.
Figure 6-7
Figure 6-8
One of the benefits of Windows XP is that it enables you to open and work with several
programs at the same time. To make working with several programs at once easier, you can
change the size of the windows. You can maximize, or enlarge, a window so it takes up the
entire screen; minimize, or reduce, a window so that it only appears as a button in the
Windows taskbar; or size a window somewhere in between. This lesson explains how to
change the size of a window by maximizing, minimizing, and restoring.
Maximize button
First, lets look at how to maximize a window. Some programs, such as word processors and
Web browsers, are easier to work with and fill the entire screen. To enlarge a window to fill
your computer screen, click the Maximize button.
1.
Restore button
Click the WordPad windows Maximize buttonthe middle button in

WordPads titlebar.
The WordPad program maximizes, filling the entire screen. You can change a
maximized window back to its original size by clicking the Restore button. The
Restore button appears in place of the Maximize button whenever a window is already
in a maximized state.
2.
3.
4.
Click the WordPad windows Restore button to restore the WordPad

window back to its previous size.
The window returns to its previous size.
Just like you can keep several papers on top of your desk, Windows can run more than
one program at a time. For example, you can work on a letter with your word
processing program while your Web browser is open and downloading a file from the
Internet. There is a potential pitfall with running several programs simultaneously
thoughthere isnt enough room for all of them to fit on your computer screen!
Luckily, you can tuck programs away, keeping them running and ready for use, yet
away from view, by minimizing them.
Click the WordPad windows Minimize button to minimize the WordPad
program.
The WordPad program shrinks to an icon located in the Windows taskbar. WordPad is
still open and runningits just hidden from view, tucked away and ready for future
use. Its important to note that minimized programs can still run in the background. If a
program is doing something, such as downloading a file from the Internet, it will keep
going, even when the program is minimized.
Its easy to redisplay a minimized program or window when youre ready to use it
again.
Find and click the WordPad icon in the Windows taskbar.
The WordPad program springs back to life and appears on the screen.
143
Other Ways to Maximize

and Restore a Window:
Double-click the title bar
of the window to toggle
between maximized
and restored states.
Minimize button
WordPad icon
Its important that you get all this maximize/minimize/restore stuff down, because it will help
you be more productive with your computer.
Quick Reference
To Maximize a Window:
Click the windows
Maximize button.
Or
Double-click the windows
title bar.
To Restore a Maximized
Window:
Click the windows
Restore button.
Or
Double-click the windows
title bar.
To Minimize a Window:
Click the windows
Minimize button.
To Restore a Minimized
Window:
Click the windows icon
on the taskbar.
144
Computer Basics
Lesson 6-4: Closing a Window

Figure 6-9
Click the Close button on
the window you want to
close.
Figure 6-10
The window disappears
from your screen.
Close button
Other Ways to Close a
Window:
Select File Exit from
the menu.
Right-click the
programs icon on the
task bar and select
Close from the shortcut
menu.
Figure 6-9
1.
Quick Reference
Click the windows Close
button.
Or
Right-click the programs
icon on the task bar and
select Close from the
shortcut menu.
Or
Press <Alt> + <F4>.
To Close All Open
Windows:
Hold down the <Shift>
key while you click the
Close button of any
window.
The icon for the window

disappears from the taskbar.
When youre finished working with a window or program, you can close it to remove it from
the screen and computers memory. You can close any window or program by clicking its
Close button, which appears in the upper-right corner of the window.
Press <Alt> + <F4>.
To Close a Window:
Figure 6-10
Close button
2.
3.
Click the WordPad windows Close button.

The WordPad program closes. Notice the WordPad icon no longer appears in the
Windows taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Thats all there is to closing a window or
program.
NOTE: If a program has more than one window open, you can close all of its open
windows by holding down the <Shift> key when you click the Close button
for any window.
Since youre going to be working with the WordPad program in the next few lessons,
you will need to open it again.
The Windows XP Start menu appears.
Select All Programs Accessories WordPad from the Start menu.
The WordPad program reappears.
If a program happens to be minimized, you need to restore it by clicking its icon on the
taskbar before you can see and click the windows close button.
145
Lesson 6-5: Moving a Window

Move a window by
dragging it by its title
bar to a new location
on the screen.
Figure 6-11
Moving a window to a new
location on the screen.
Figure 6-11
When you have several programs or windows open, you may find that one window covers the
other windows or other items on your screen. When this happens, you can simply move a
window to a new location on the screenjust like you would move a report or folder to a
different location on your desk. Heres how to move a window:
1.
2.
3.
Position the mouse pointer over the title bar of the WordPad program.
Remember that the title bar is the colored bar at the very top of a window or program.
It displays the name of the program or window.
Click the title bar and move the mouse while still holding down the
mouse button.
Yep, its that drag and drop stuff you learned earlier. An outline of the window follows
your mouse as you drag the window, as shown in Figure 6-11, showing you where you
are moving it.
Release the mouse button to drop the window to a new location.
Quick Reference
To Move a Window:
Click and drag the
window by its title bar.
Release the mouse
button to drop the window
in the desired location on
the screen.
146
Computer Basics
Lesson 6-6: Sizing a Window

Figure 6-12
Dragging a windows edge
or corner changes the size
of the window.
1. Point at the border of

the window until the
pointer changes to
a
.
2. Click and hold the

mouse button and
drag the border of
the window.
3. Release the mouse

button when the
window is the size
you want.
Figure 6-12
If youve been following the lessons in this chapter, you should already know how to change
the size of a window or program by minimizing, maximizing, and restoring it. This lesson
explains how you can fine-tune the size of a window to meet your own specific needs.
The mouse pointer
changes shapes over
the border of a
window.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Make sure the WordPad program appears as a window and doesnt fill the
entire screen.
A window doesnt have to be maximized (fill up the entire screen) or minimized
(appear only as a button on the Taskbar) if you want to manually size it.
Position the mouse pointer over the right border of the WordPad window
until it changes to a
.
The two arrows point in the directions that you can drag the window's border, in this
case, left or right. Had you positioned the pointer over the top or bottom of the
window, the pointer would have changed to a , indicating that you could drag the top
or bottom of the window up or down.
NOTE: Windows is very picky where you place the pointer, and sometimes it can be
tricky finding the exact spot where the pointer changes. Its therejust move
the pointer slowly over the border until you find it.
Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the
right 1 inch to move the window border.
Notice that the window stretches as you drag the mouse. When the window is the size
you want, you can release the mouse button.
Release the mouse button.
The window is displayed in its new size.
147
This lesson explained how to resize a window by adjusting the right border of a window, but
you can change a windows size by dragging its left, top, and bottom borders. You can also
resize a window by dragging its corners just like you drag its borders.
Quick Reference
To Change a Windows
Size:
1. Point at the windows
borders or corners until
the pointer changes to a
double-arrow (like
).
2. Click and hold down the
mouse button and drag
the border or corner to a
new location, until the
window is the size you
want.
148
Computer Basics
Lesson 6-7: Switching Between

Windows
Figure 6-13
Click any part of a window to switch to

that window.
You can only work in one

window at a time. Notice
that WordPad appears in
front of all other windows
and has a blue title bar.
Figure 6-14
Click any part of the
Calculator window or its
button on the taskbar so
that it appears in front of
all the other windows.
Figure 6-15
Figure 6-13
The taskbar displays icons for each

open window. Click an icon to switch
to its window.
Pressing <Alt> + <Tab>

lists all the programs that
are currently running.
Figure 6-15
The active windows icon is darker

blue to show it is pressed down on
the taskbar.
Figure 6-14
You can have several programs or windows open and running simultaneously, but you can
only work in one window at a time. The window youre working with is called the active
window and always appears on top of any other windows that you have open. If you think
about it, you do the same thing when you work at your desk. When you want to work on a
piece of paper, you place it on top of everything else on your desk.
This lesson explains how to switch between the programs youre running. There are actually
several ways to switch between windows, and well cover all of them in this lesson. First, you
need to make sure you have several programs running
1.
Make sure the WordPad program is still open.

If it isnt open, click the Start button and select All Programs Accessories
WordPad. Notice an icon for the WordPad program appears on the taskbar. Next, you
need to open another program that comes with Windows XPthe calculator.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
149
Start the calculator by clicking the Start button and selecting All
Programs Accessories Calculator.
The calculator program appears in front of the WordPad program. An icon for the
Calculator program also appears in the taskbar, next to the WordPad icon. Notice the
Calculator program appears in front, and its icon is depressed on the taskbar, which
indicates it is the active window. You can make WordPad the active window by
clicking its icon on the taskbar.
Click the WordPad button on the taskbar.
The WordPad program appears in front, and its icon on the taskbar is depressesed,
which indicates it is the active window. You can make another open window the active
window by clicking on any visible part of the window.
WordPad button
on the taskbar
Click any portion of the Calculator window.

If you cant see the Calculator window at all, its because the Calculator window is
completely covered by the WordPad window. In this case, you will have to click the
Calculator icon on the taskbar.
Yet another method of switching between windows is the most famous keystroke
combination in Windows: <Alt> + <Tab>.
Press and hold down the <Alt> key, press and release the <Tab> key, but
dont release the <Alt> key.
The task window appears, as shown in Figure 6-15. The task window lists all the
windows and programs that are currently running. Move on to the next step to see how
you can retrieve a program or window from the task list.
While still holding down the <Alt> key, press and release the <Tab> key
until the WordPad program is selected, then release the <Alt> key.
When you release the <Alt> key, the selected window or program is activated and
displayed in front of any other windows.
NOTE: <Alt> + <Tab> is especially useful when you use programs that fill the entire
computer screen, such as MS-DOS programs and some games. When you
cant see the taskbar or any part of another window, <Alt> + <Tab> is the
only way you can switch between programs.
NOTE: When youre working with multiple programs, be careful not to accidentally
run a second copy of the same program. This wastes memory and makes
things confusing. For example, if youve been using the Calculator program
and want to bring it back up, make sure you check the taskbar to see if its
already running (a Calculator icon appears on the taskbar). If it is, use any of
the methods youve learned in this lesson to switch to it. If a program is
already running and you load it again from the Start menu, a second copy of
the program opens and two icons for the program will appear on the taskbar.
Think you have a handle on switching between programs and windows? Good, because when
you work with Windows, youll find yourself switching between programs and windows
throughout the day.
Quick Reference
To Switch between Open
Programs:
Click the programs icon
on the taskbar.
Or
Click on any part of the
window you want to
appear in front.
Or
<Alt> key and press the
<Tab> key to display the
task list. Press the <Tab>
key until the program you
want is selected, then
release the <Alt> key.
150
Computer Basics
Chapter Six Review

Lesson Summary
Starting a Program
Start a program by clicking the Start button, clicking the All Programs menu, clicking the menu
and any submenus where the program you want to run is located, and clicking the name of the
Understanding the Parts of a Window
Be able to identify a windows title bar, menu, minimize, maximize, and close buttons.
Minimizing, Maximizing, and Restoring a Window
Maximize a window so that it fills the entire screen by clicking its Maximize button, or by doubleclicking its title bar.
Restore a window to its previous size by clicking its Restore button, or by double-clicking its title
bar.
Minimize a window so that it only appears as an icon on the taskbar by clicking the windows
Minimize button.
Restore a minimized window by clicking its icon on the taskbar.
Closing a Window
Close a window by clicking its Close button, or by pressing <Alt> + <F4>.
Close all open windows by holding down the <Shift> key while you click the Close button of any
window.
Moving a Window
To Move a Window: Click and drag the window by its title bar. Release the mouse button to drop
the window in the desired location on the screen.
Sizing a Window
To Change a Windows Size: Point at the windows borders or corners until the pointer changes to
a double-arrow (like
). Click and hold down the mouse button and drag the border or corner to a
new location until the window is the size you want.
Switching between Windows
You can only work on one window at a time. The window youre working on is the active window
and appears in front of all the inactive windows.
151
To Switch between Open Programs: There are three ways to switch between open programs:
1. Click on the programs icon on the taskbar.
2. Click on any visible part of the window that you want to appear in front.
3. Press and hold down the <Alt> key and press the <Tab> key to display the task list. Press the
<Tab> key until the program you want is selected, then release the <Alt> key.
Quiz
1. To start a program in Windows XP, do the following:
A. Make sure the Program Manager is open, double-click the Program Group where the
program you want to run is located, and double-click the Program.
B. Click the Start button, point to the All Programs menu, click the menu and any
submenus where the program you want to run is located, and click the name of the
C. Click the Start button, point to the Run menu, click the menu and any submenus
where the program you want to run is located, and then click the name of the
D. None of the above.
2. The little bar that lists a programs name and is found at the top of a
window is called the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Windows bar.
Program bar.
Title bar.
Very top of the window bar.
3. You start your favorite word processing program to type a letter, but the
program appears in a window thats too small to use. How can you
maximize the window so it fills the entire screen? (Select all that apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Select Window Full Screen from the menu.

Double-click the windows Title bar.
Click the programs icon on the taskbar.
Click the Maximize button located in the right side of the windows Title bar.
4. You can open or restore a minimized window by clicking its icon on the
taskbar. (True or False?)
5. You can move a window to a different position on your computer screen by
dragging it by its:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Title bar.
Status bar.
Move handle.
Tail.
152
Computer Basics
6. You have several programs open at the same timehow can you switch
between these programs? (Select all that apply.)
A. Restart the programClick the Start button, point to the All Programs menu, click
the menu and any submenus where the program you want to switch to is located, and
click the name of the program you want to view.
B. Click the programs icon on the taskbar.
C. Click on any visible part of the window you want to appear in front.
D. Press and hold down the <Alt> key and press the <Tab> key to display the task list.
Press the <Tab> key until the program you want is selected, then release the <Alt>
key.
Homework
1. Click the Start button, select All Programs, and click the Accessories menu.
2. Start the NotePad program (located under All Programs Accessories).
3. Make the NotePad window a few inches bigger.
4. Maximize the NotePad window.
5. Restore the NotePad window to its previous size.
6. Move the NotePad window to a different location on the screen.
7. Open the Calculator program.
8. Tile both windows on the screen by right-clicking a blank area of the taskbar.
9. Close both windows.
Quiz Answers
1. B.
2. C. The little bar along the windows top that lists the program name is the Title bar.
3. B and D. Double-clicking the windows Title bar or clicking the windows Maximize
button will maximize the window so it fills the entire screen.
4. True. Clicking the icon of a minimized program on the taskbar restores the window.
5. A. Move a window by dragging its Title bar.
6. B, C, and D. You can use any of these methods to switch between open programs.
Dont use A, which starts another copy of the program instead of switching to the
already open program.
Chapter Seven:
Working with
Programs
Chapter Objectives:
Prerequisites
How to start and shut
down Windows.
Use menus and toolbars
Fill out a dialog box
Enter and edit text
Save and open a file

click and drag, and
right-click.
Select, replace, and delete text
How to use the

keyboard.
Use the undo function
Print a file
Cut, copy, and paste text
Format fonts and paragraphs
Get help
Save and open files in different locations
Up until now, weve only been focusing on how to use the Windows XP operating system. In
this chapter, youll be working with a program. This chapter explains how to control programs
using menus and toolbars. Youll also learn what a dialog box is (youll see a lot of them in
Windows), and how to fill one out.
Next, well get more specific. Every program is different, but the procedure for doing things
in all programs is the same. This chapter explains these basic generic chores using the
WordPad program. Youll learn how to enter, edit, and delete text; how to open, save, and
print a file; and how to get help when you need it. Once youve learned these basic skills in
WordPad, you can apply them to just about every other Windows program. This is one of the
longest chapters about Windows XP, so we have a lot of ground to cover. Lets get started
154
Lesson 7-1: Using Menus

Figure 7-1
Starting the WordPad
program.
Figure 7-2
The WordPad program
window.
Figure 7-3
The Date and Time dialog
box.
Figure 7-2
Figure 7-1
Figure 7-3
To make a program do your bidding, you give it commands. You can give commands to your
Windows program several different ways: by using menus, toolbars, right mouse button
shortcut menus and keystroke shortcuts. This lesson explains the most common method of
issuing commands to Windows programsthrough menus. You can find a programs menu
near the top of a window just beneath the title bar. In Figure 7-2, notice the words File, Edit,
View, Insert, Format, and Help that appear near the top of the WordPad program. Those words
are menus, and the next few steps will show you why they are there.
Start button
1.
2.
3.

The Start menu appears.
Select All Programs Accessories WordPad from the Start menu.
That means you should click All Programs, then click the word Accessories from
the All Programs menu, and then click the word WordPad from the Accessories
menu, as shown in Figure 7-1. The WordPad program appears.
Move the pointer to and click the word Insert on the menu bar.
A menu drops down under the word Insert, as shown in Figure 7-2.
The Insert menu contains a list of commands to insert things, such as the Date and
Time, which inserts the current date and/or time, and Object, which inserts a file
created in another program.
Chapter Seven: Working with Programs
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
155
Point to and click the Date and Time option from the Insert menu.
The Date and Time dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-3, presenting you with
several different date and time formats to choose from. Youll learn more about dialog
boxes in an upcoming lesson.
Click the OK button.
The Date and Time dialog box disappears and the current date is inserted into the
WordPad document.
Take a close look at the WordPad menu barnotice that every word in the menu has an
underlined letter somewhere in it? For example, the F in the File menu is underlined.
Pressing the <Alt> key and then pressing the underlined letter in a menu does the same
thing as clicking the menu with the mouse.
Press the <Alt> key then press the <F> key.
The File menu appears. Once a menu is open, you can use the arrow keys on your
computers keyboard to navigate through the menus, or press any other underlined
letters in the menu.
Press the right arrow key <>.
The next menu to the right, the Edit menu, opens.
If you open a menu and change your mind, its easy to close it without selecting any
commands. Just click anywhere outside the menu or else press the <Esc> key.
Click anywhere outside the menu to close the menu without selecting any
commands.
NOTE: The procedure for using menus and the general order/layout of the menu is
usually similar in most Windows programs. So if you master the menus in one
Windows program, you will be familiar with the layout and function of the
menus in other Windows programs.
OK button
You can open menus by

clicking the menu name
with the mouse or by
pressing the <Alt> key
and the underlined
letter in the menu
name.
You can close a menu

without selecting any
commands by clicking
anywhere outside the
menu or by pressing
the <Esc> key.
Table 7-2: Common Windows Program Menus gives you a preview of some of the different
menu items you will come across.
Table 7-2: Common Windows Program Menus
File
Description
File
Commands to open, save, close, print, and create new files
Edit
Commands to copy, cut, paste, find, and replace text in a document
View
Commands to change how the document is displayed on the screen
Insert
Lists items that you can insert into a document, such as graphics, page
numbers, and the current date
Format
Commands to format text, paragraphs, tab stops, etc. Strangely, the command
to format the page (i.e. margins, etc.) is located in the File menu under Page
Setup.
Window
Commands to display and arrange multiple windows (if you have more than one
document open). WordPad doesnt have this menu since it can only have one
file open at a time.
Help
Get help on the program you are using.
Quick Reference
To Open a Menu:
Click the menu name with
the mouse.
Or
Press <Alt> and the
underlined letter in the
menu name.
156
Lesson 7-2: Using Toolbars

Figure 7-4
Move the pointer over a
button and wait a few
seconds for the buttons
description.
Figure 7-5
Figure 7-4
The Date and Time dialog

box.
Figure 7-6
The WordPad document.
Figure 7-5
Figure 7-6
Toolbars are another common way to boss around your programs. While menus contain every
conceivable command for a program, toolbars contain buttons for the commands you use
most frequently. Instead of having to wade through several menus to do something, you can
click a single button.
Two toolbars appear in the WordPad programthe Standard toolbar and the Formatting
toolbar. The Standard toolbar appears on top and contains buttons for the most frequently
used commands in WordPad, such as saving and printing a document. The Formatting toolbar
is located right underneath the Standard toolbar and has buttons for quickly formatting fonts
and paragraphs.
Toolbar buttons have small icons to indicate what they do. For example, a small picture of a
printer appears on the Print button. If you still dont know what a button is used for, move the
pointer over the button and wait a few seconds. Usually, a little window will appear with a
brief description of the button.
1.
2.
Date/Time button
3.
Click after the date you entered in the last lesson and press the <Enter>
key.
A new paragraph is started.
Point the mouse pointer over the Date/Time button on WordPads
Standard toolbar.
A small window appears over the button, briefly identifying what the button isin this
case Date/Timeas shown in Figure 7-4.
Click the Date/Time button.
The Date and Time dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-5, presenting you with
several different date and time formats to choose from.
4.
5.
157
Click the OK button.

WordPad inserts the current date and time in the WordPad document.
OK button
Press and hold the <Backspace> key to delete the date you just entered.
Only one date remains on your screen. You will learn more about deleting text in a later
lesson.
Compare your screen with the one in Figure 7-6.
Quick Reference
To Use a Toolbar Button:

Click the toolbar button.
To See What a Toolbar
Button Does:
Position the pointer over
the toolbar button and
wait a second. A
ScreenTip will appear
above the button.
158
Lesson 7-3: Filling Out a Dialog

Box
Figure 7-7
The Font dialog box.
Text box
OK button
Figure 7-8
Cancel button
A scroll bar.
List box
Check box
Preview area
List arrow
Figure 7-7
Scroll Up button
Click here to scroll up.
You can select a

control in a dialog box
by clicking the control
with the mouse or by
pressing the <Tab> key
until the control is
selected.
Text box
Scroll Down button

Click here to scroll
down.
Scroll box
Indicates your current position in the
list (you can also click and drag the
scroll box to scroll up or down).
Figure 7-8
Some commands are more complicated than others. For example, saving a file is a simple
processall you have to do is select File Save from the menu or click the Save button on
the Standard toolbar. Other commands are more complex. Whenever you want to do
something relatively complicated in Windows, you need to fill out a dialog box. Filling out a
dialog box is not much different than filling out a paper form. Dialog boxes usually contain
several types of controls, including:
Text boxes
List boxes
Check boxes
List arrows
Buttons
This lesson will give you a quick tour of a more complicated dialog box and show you how to
use the various dialog box components you will come across.
List box
1.
Select Format from the menu.

The Format menu appears.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Look at the items listed in the Format menuFont, Paragraph and Tabs are followed
by ellipses Whenever you see a menu item followed by ellipses, a dialog box is
lurking just behind the menu.
Select Font from the Format menu.
The Font dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-7.
The Font dialog box is one of the most complex dialog boxes in the WordPad program
and contains several types of controls. You have to select a control to use it. You can do
this by clicking the control with the mouse. Or you can move to the control by pressing
the <Tab> key to move to the next control, or <Shift> + <Tab> to move to the previous
control, until the cursor appears in the control or it becomes highlighted.
First, lets look at text boxes. Text boxes are nothing more than the fill-in-the-blank
boxes youve already used in many types of paper forms. Text boxes are incredibly
easy to usejust type in the text you want.
Make sure the cursor is in the Font text box type Arial.
Youve just filled out the text boxnothing to it.
The next stop in our dialog box tour is the list box. A list box puts several options
together into a small box. Sometimes list boxes contain so many options that they cant
all be displayed at once, and you must click the list boxs scroll bar to move up or
down the list. See Figure 7-8 for an illustration of a scroll box.
Click and hold the Font list box Scroll Down button until Times New
Roman appears in the list.
Click the Times New Roman option in the list.
Our next destination is the list arrow. The list arrow is the cousin of the list boxit,
too, displays a list of options. The only difference is that you must click the downward
pointing arrow in order to display the list.
Click the Color list arrow.
A list of color options appears.
Select the Blue color from the list.
Sometimes you need to select more than one item in a dialog box. For example, what if
you want to add Strikeout formatting and Underline formatting to the selected font?
Use the check box control when youre presented with multiple choices.
Click the Strikeout check box and click the Underline check box.
The last destination on our dialog box tour is the button. Buttons are used to execute or
void commands. Two buttons can be found in every dialog box. They are:
9.
159
OK: Applies and saves any changes you have made and then closes the dialog
box. Pressing the <Enter> key usually does the same thing as clicking the OK
button.
Cancel: Closes the dialog box without applying and saving any changes.
Pressing the <Esc> key usually does the same thing as clicking the cancel
button.
Click the Cancel button to cancel the changes you made and close the
Font dialog box.
List arrow
Check box
Quick Reference
To Select a Dialog Box

Control:
Click the control with the
mouse.
Or
Press <Tab> to move to
the next control in the
dialog box or <Shift> +
<Tab> to move to the
previous control until you
arrive at the desired
control.
To Use a Text Box:
Simply type the
information directly into
the text box.
To Use a List Box:
Click the option you want
from list box. Use the
scroll bar to move up and
down through its options.
To Use a List Arrow:
Click the list arrow to
display the list options.
Click an option from the
list to select it.
To Close a Dialog Box and
Save Changes:
Click the OK button or
press <Enter>.
To Close a Dialog Box
Without Saving Changes:
Click the Cancel button
or press <Esc>.
160
Lesson 7-4: Entering Text in the

WordPad Program
Figure 7-9
A simple letter created in
the WordPad program.
Figure 7-9
This lesson explains how to create a document using the WordPad program. Actually, there
isnt much to explainall you have to do is type!
Start button
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
If necessary, open the WordPad program.

If you dont remember how to open WordPad, select All Programs Accessories
WordPad from the menu.
Lets enter some text.
Click ins the WordPad window, and type 9/29
Good. Now were going to write a letter.
Press the <Enter> key twice.
WordPad inserts a new paragraph, or new line, each time you press the <Enter> key.
Type the following text: To the La Fanci Nails Company:
As you type, notice that the insertion point (the small, blinking vertical bar) moves to
indicate where you are typing.
Press the <Enter> key twice, and type the following text:
I bought a set of your press-on nails last month, and I
was extremely displeased with them. While pressing my La
Fanci Nails on, I went to pet my poodle, Pizzy, and my
hand and nails stuck to her shaggy little pelt. That was
in August and were still glued together.
The press-on nail glue should not have been so strong!
Pizzys barking is driving me mad. Please reconsider the
strength of your product.

Make sure you press the <Enter> key twice to add a blank line between the two
paragraphs. Dont press <Enter> when you reach the end of a lineWordPad will
automatically move the text to the next line for you. This feature is called word-wrap.
When youre finished typing, compare your letter with Figure 7-9.
161
While you type, wordwrap continues text

from one line to the
next without making
you press <Enter>.
Quick Reference
To Enter Text in WordPad:
1. Place the insertion point
in WordPad by clicking in
the WordPad screen.
2. Type your text.
162
Lesson 7-5: Editing Text

Figure 7-10
Use the keyboard or the
mouse to move the
insertion point in a
document.
Move the insertion

point with the arrow
keys on your
computers
keyboard
Figure 7-10
or by using the
mouse to click
where you want to
place the insertion
point with the
pointer.
After typing a document, you will often discover that you need to make some changes to your
textperhaps you want to rephrase or even delete a sentence. Editing a document by inserting
and deleting text is very simple. To insert text, move the insertion point (the blinking bar) to
where you want to insert the text. You can move the insertion point using the arrow keys on
the keyboard or by using the mouse to click where you want to move it, as shown in Figure
7-10. Once the insertion point is where you want it, just start typing.
There are a couple ways to delete text. One way to delete text is to place the insertion point
immediately after the text you want to delete and press the <Backspace> key. Another way to
delete text is to place the insertion point immediately before the text you want to delete and
press the <Delete> key.
In this lesson, youll get practice inserting and deleting text and revising the letter you created
in WordPad.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Placing the
insertion point
5.
Press the up arrow key <>.

The insertion point moves up one line.
Press and hold the up arrow key <> to move the insertion point to the
very top line in the document.
Now you need to move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line.
Press and hold the left arrow key <> to move the insertion point to the
very beginning of the line.
Type Subject: Glue Trauma and press <Enter> twice.
The text and blank line is inserted at the insertion point, before the rest of the
document. Youve just learned how to insert text in a documentpretty easy, huh?
Move the insertion point immediately after the word extremely in the first
body paragraph.
Here, you need to delete some text; delete the word extremely.
6.
7.
8.
9.
163
Press the <Backspace> key several times, until the word extremely is
deleted.
The Backspace key deletes one space to the left of the insertion point.
Type very.
Youve just deleted the word extremely and inserted the word very to take its
place.
You can also use the mouse to move the insertion point instead of the arrow keys.
Simply use the mouse to move the pointer where you want to place the insertion point
and then click.
Click immediately after the word August in the sentence That was in
August and were still stuck together.
The insertion point appears immediately after the word Augustright where you
clicked the mouse button.
You can also use the Delete key to delete text. Like the Backspace key, the Delete key
also deletes text, but in a slightly different way. The Backspace key deletes text before,
or to the left of the insertion point, while the Delete key deletes text after, or to the right
of the insertion point.
Press the <Delete> key.
The Delete key deletes text to the right of, or before, the insertion point.
10. Press and hold the <Delete> key until you have deleted the rest of the
The <Backspace> key

deletes one space to
the left of, or behind,
the insertion point.
The <Delete> key

deletes one space to
the right of, or
before, the insertion
point.
sentence and were still stuck together.

Great! Youve learned how to delete text using the Delete key.
Compare your revised document with the one shown in Figure 7-10.
Quick Reference
To Move the Insertion

Point:
Use the arrow keys.
Or
Click where you want to
place the insertion point
with the pointer.
To Insert Text:
Move the insertion point
where you want to insert
the text and then type the
text you want to insert.
To Delete Text:
The <Backspace> key
deletes text behind, or to
the left of, the insertion
point.
The <Delete> key deletes
text before, or to the right
of, the insertion point.
164
Lesson 7-6: Saving and Opening a

File
Figure 7-11
Save in list
Select the drive or folder where
you want to save the file.
The Save As dialog box.

Figure 7-12
The Open dialog box.
Displays files located in the

selected drive or folder.
File name text box

Type the name you want to save
your file as here.
Figure 7-11
Look in list
Select the drive or folder where the
file you want to open is located.
Displays files located in the

selected drive or folderselect the
file you want to open here.
The letter file.
Figure 7-12
Save button
Other Ways to Save:
Select File Save
from the menu.
Once you have created something in a program, you must save the file if you ever want to use
it again in the future. When you save a file, youre transferring it from your computers
memory (which is erased when you close the program) to the computers local disk (which is
permanent and not erased when you close the program). In this lesson, you will learn how to
save a file and then open or retrieve it from the local disk.
1.
2.
Click the Save button on the Standard toolbar.

The Save As dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-11. You must give your file a
name and specify where you want to save it. First, tell the computer you want to save
the file in your Practice folder.
Navigate to your Practice folder.
Your computer stores information in files and folders, just like you store information in
a filing cabinet. To open a file, you must first find and open the folder where its saved.
The Save As dialog box has its own toolbar, making it easy to browse through your
computers drives and folders. Two controls on this toolbar are particularly helpful:
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
165
Look in list: Click to list the drives on your computer

and the current folder, then select the drive and/or folder whose contents you
want to display.
Up button: Click to move up one folder level.

If necessary, follow your instructors directions to select the appropriate drive and
folder where your practice files are located.
Click the File name text box.
The File name box is where you give your file a name.
Close button
NOTE: File names can be up to 255 characters long and contain letters, numbers, and
some symbols. You cant use the symbols " \ / : * | < > in a file name.
Type Letter.
This will save the document you created in a file named Letter.
Click Save.
Your computer saves the Letter file to the computers hard disk.
Now that youve saved the file, you can safely close WordPad or even turn off the
computer, knowing that your WordPad Letter file is stored and can be retrieved
whenever you want to work on it again.
Close the WordPad program by clicking its Close button.
The WordPad program closes.
Lets make sure the Letter document you created and saved in WordPad is still there.
Open button
Other Ways to Open a
File:
Select File Open
from the menu.
Open the WordPad program again.

Once you have started WordPad, you can open the Letter document you saved.
Click the Open button on the Standard toolbar.
The Open dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-12. The Open dialog box is very
similar to the Save As dialog box, except you specify the name and location of the file
you want to open.
If necessary, navigate to your Practice folder.
The Open dialog box will display any WordPad files that have been saved in the
Practice folder. Heres how to select a file you want to open.
Quick Reference
To Save a File:
Shading appears over the Letter file, indicating that it is selected.
Click the Save button on

the Standard toolbar.
Or
The Letter document appears in the WordPad window.
Select File Save from

the menu.
10. Click the Letter file.
11. Click the Open button.
When you open a file, instead of selecting a file and clicking the Open button, you can save a
half-second or so by simply double-clicking the file you want to open.
To Open a File:
Click the Open button on
Or
Select File Open from
the menu.
166
Lesson 7-7: Selecting, Replacing,

and Deleting Text
Figure 7-13
1. Position the insertion point before or after
the text that you want to select.
You can select and

replace text.
Figure 7-14
2. Click and hold down the left mouse button,

drag the mouse across the text you want to
select, and then release the mouse button.
The updated letter.
Figure 7-13
3. If you want to replace the selected text,

simply type in the new text it will overwrite
the selected text.
Figure 7-14
This lesson explains how to select text. Whenever you want to edit more than one character at
a time, you must select it first. A lot of editing and formatting techniquessuch as formatting,
cutting, copying and pasting textalso require that you select the text you want to modify.
There are probably hundreds of reasons to select text in many Windows-based programs, so it
pays to be an expert at it.
To replace text, select
the text you want to
replace and type the
new text you want to
replace it with.
1.
2.
Place the insertion point immediately in front of the word August in the
last sentence of the first paragraph.
You learned how to move the insertion around using the mouse earlier in this chapter.
Actually, you can place the insertion point before or after the text you want to select.
Click and hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse across the
word August (the words should be highlighted). Release the mouse
button when youre finished.
The word August should be highlighted in blue, as shown in Figure 7-13. Selecting text
with the mouse can be a little tricky at first, especially if youre still a novice at using
the mouse. When you select text, anything you type will replace the selected text.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
167
Type July.
The word July replaces the selected text, August. A quick way to select a single
word is to double-click the word you want to select.
Double-click the word Trauma in the Subject line.
Type Crisis.
The word Crisis replaces the word Trauma. You can also use the keyboard to select text
if you dont like using the mouse. To select text using the keyboard, move the insertion
point before or after the text you want to select, and then press and hold down the
<Shift> key while you use the arrow keys to select the text.
Other Ways to Select

Text:
Double-click a word to
select it.
Move the insertion point to the very end of the Subject: Glue Crisis line.
Try selecting text with the keyboard in the next step.
Press and hold down the <Shift> key and press and hold down the left
arrow key <> until the Subject line is selected.
If you change your mind after selecting text, its easy to deselect it. Just click anywhere
else on the screen.
Click anywhere in the document to deselect the text.
The Subject line is no longer selected.
Another trick you should know is that you can delete any selected text by pressing the
<Delete> key.
Quick Reference
To Select This
Do This
A word
Double-click the word.
A line
Click next to the line in the left margin.
A sentence
Press and hold <Ctrl> and double-click the sentence.
To Select a String of Text:

1. Move the insertion point
to the beginning or end of
the text you want to
select.
2. Click and hold the left
mouse button and drag
the insertion point across
the text, then release the
mouse button once the
text is selected.
Or
<Shift> key while using
the arrow keys to select
the text.
The entire document
Press and hold <Ctrl> and double-click in the left margin.
To Select a Single Word:
9.
Select the date and press the <Delete> key.

The date is deleted.
And thats all there is to selecting text in Windows. Again, its very important that you know
how to select text. Knowing how to select text will make you much more proficient at using
many Window programs.
Table 7-3: Shortcuts for Selecting Text
Double-click the word you

want to select.
To Replace Text:
Replace text by first
selecting it, then typing
the new text.
To Deselect Text:
Click anywhere on the
computer screen.
To Delete Selected Text:
1. Select the text.
2. Press the <Delete> key.
168
Lesson 7-8: Using Undo

Figure 7-15
You can cancel a text
deletion with the Undo
feature.
Undo
Figure 7-15
Undo button
Other Ways to Undo:
Select Edit Undo
from the menu.
Press <Ctrl> + <Z>.
You may not want to admit this, but youre going to make mistakes when you use Windows.
You might accidentally delete a sentence in your word processing program that you didnt
mean to delete, or paste something that you didnt mean to paste. Fortunately, Windows and
most Windows programs come with a wonderful feature called undo that does just that
undoes your last action, making it as though it never happened.
Many people that are new to Windows or computers in general are often terrified of using
computers because they are afraid they will make a mistake and seriously mess things up.
First of all, its more difficult to mess up your computer than you think it is. Secondly, you
will learn how to use Undo, so even if you do make a mistake, you can easily cancel it.
1.
Quick Reference
To Undo Your Previous
Action:
Click the Undo button on
the toolbar.
Or
Select Edit Undo from
the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <Z>.
2.
Select the Subject: Glue Crisis line and delete it by pressing the
<Delete> key.
Whoops! You didnt really want to delete that! Watch how you can undo your
mistake.
Click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar.
Poof! WordPad cancels your last action and the deleted text Subject: Glue Crisis
reappears.
In most programs, Undo will only cancel your last action or change; if you dont catch your
mistake right after you make it, Undo may not be able to help.
169
Lesson 7-9: Printing a File

Figure 7-16
The Print dialog box.
Figure 7-16
This lesson will show you how to send whatever youre working on to the printer. Printing is
one of the easiest things to do in Windows.
1.
2.
Select File Print from the menu.

The Print dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-16. The Print dialog box may differ
depending on the program youre using, but it should usually contain the options listed
in Table 7-4: Print Dialog Box Options.
Click OK.
Windows sends the document to the printer.
Table 7-4: Print Dialog Box Options
Other Ways to Print:

Click the Print button
if it appears on the
toolbar.
Press <Ctrl> + .
Quick Reference
Print option
Description
To Print a File:
Name
Used to select what printer to send your file to when it prints (if you are
connected to more than one printer). The currently selected printer is
displayed.
Click the Print button on

Or
Properties
Displays a dialog box with options available to your specific printer such as
printing on both sides of the page, selecting the paper size you want to use,
printing in color or black and white, etc.
Select File Print from

the menu.
Or
Page range
Allows you to specify what pages you want to print. There are several
options:
All: Prints the entire document.
Selection: Prints only the text you have selected (before selecting the
print command).
Pages: Prints only the pages of the file you specify. Select a range of
pages with a hyphen (for example: 5-8) and separate single pages with
a comma (for example: 3,7).
Press <Ctrl> + .
Number of copies
Specifies the number of copies you want to print.
170
Lesson 7-10: Cutting, Copying and

Pasting Text
Figure 7-17
The steps involved in
cutting and pasting text.
1. Select the text or object you want

to cut and click the Cut button on
the Standard Toolbar. The text or
object is removed or cut from its
original location.
2. Move the insertion point to

where you want to place the cut
text or object.
3. Click the Paste button on the

Standard Toolbar to paste the
cut text or object.
Cut button
Other Ways to Cut:
Select Edit Cut from
the menu.
Press <Ctrl> + <X>.
Paste button
Other Ways to Paste:
Select Edit Paste
from the menu.
Press <Ctrl> + <V>.
By now, you should already know how to select text in a document. Once text is selected, you
can move it to another place in the document by cutting it and then pasting it elsewhere.
Cutting and pasting text is one of the more common tasks you will use in your programs.
Anything you cut is placed in a temporary storage area called the Windows Clipboard. The
Clipboard is available to any Windows program, so you can cut and paste text between
different programs.
1.
Select the entire subject line.

Remember how to select text? Point to the beginning or end of the text you want to
select, hold down the left mouse button, drag the cursor across the text, and release the
mouse button.
Now you can cut the selected text to the Windows clipboard.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click the Cut button on the Standard toolbar.

The selected text, the subject line, disappears from WordPad and is placed on the
Windows Clipboard, ready to be moved to a new location.
NOTE: The Windows Clipboard can only hold one piece of information at a time.
Every time you cut or copy something to the Clipboard, it replaces the
previous information.
Move the insertion point to the blank line immediately below To the La
Fanci Nails Company:
171
Copy button
Other Ways to Copy:
Select Edit Copy
from the menu.
Press <Ctrl> + <C>.
This is where you want to paste the line you cut.

Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar.
Poof! The cut text, the subject line, appears at the insertion point.
Copying information is very similar to cutting information. Both commands put your
selected information on the Clipboard where you can then paste it to a new location.
The only difference between the two commands is that Cut command deletes selected
information when it copies it to the clipboard, while the Copy command copies the
selected information to the clipboard without deleting it.
Select the entire document by holding down the <Ctrl> key and clicking
the pointer in the left margin.
Now you can copy the selected text to the clipboard.
Click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar.
Nothing appears to happen, but the selected text has been copied to the clipboard.
One of the great things about Windows is that it allows you to share information
between programs. For example, the information that you just copied to the Windows
clipboard from WordPad can be pasted into another Windows program. To see how this
works, you will need to open another Windows programthe Notepad.
Click the Start button and select All Programs Accessories
Notepad.
The Notepad program appears. Notepad doesnt have a toolbar like WordPad does, so
you will have to access the Paste command through the menu.
Quick Reference
To Cut an Object or Text:
1. Select the text or object
you want to cut.
2. Click the Cut button on
Or
Select Edit Cut from
the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <X>.
To Copy an Object or Text:
1. Select the text or object
you want to copy.
2. Click the Copy button on
Or
Select Edit Paste from the Notepad menu.

The document you copied from the WordPad program is pasted into the Notepad
program. You wont be using the Notepad program anymore in this chapter, so you can
close it.
Select Edit Copy from

the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <C>.
Click the Notepad programs Close button.

A dialog box appears, asking if you want to save the changes you made to the Notepad
file. You dont need to save any changes, so you can safely click No.
To Paste a Cut or Copied

Object:
1. Place the insertion point
where you want to paste
the text or object.
2. Click the Paste button on
Or
10. Click No.
You should save the changes youve made to your WordPad document.
11. Click the Save button on WordPads Standard toolbar to save the
changes youve made to the document.
WordPad saves your recent changes.
Select Edit Paste

from the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <V>.
172
Lesson 7-11: Changing the Font

Type and Size
Figure 7-18
Select a font from the Font
list.
Figure 7-19
The Font dialog box.
Figure 7-18
The current font type.
Select the font style

(Bold and/or Italic).
Select the font type.
Change the size of

the font.
Special font
formatting
effects.
Preview of the current

font settings.
Change the color of

the font.
Figure 7-19
In this lesson, youll learn how to change the font or text size and style. Although youll be
working with the WordPad program, the basic procedure for changing the size and type of a
font is the same in all Windows programs.
Font list
1.
Other Ways to Change

Fonts:
Select Format Font
from the menu, select
the font options you
want from the font
dialog box, then click
OK.
2.
3.
Move the insertion point the very end of the document and press
<Enter> twice to add a blank line.
You are going to add your name to the document here, but first you want to use a
different font to make it stand out.
Click the Font list arrow on the Formatting toolbar.
A list appears with all the fonts that are available on your computer, listed in
alphabetical order. Since there isnt enough room to display all the font types at once,
you may have to scroll up or down the list until you find the font type you want.
Scroll up the Font list until you see the Bookman Old Style font, then
click the Bookman Old Style font.
Anything you type at this point will appear in the selected Bookman Old Style font.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
173
Type Jane Plain.

The name Jane Plain appears in the Bookman Old Style font. You can also select text
and change it to a new font.
Select the line To the La Fanci Nails Company:.
In the next step, well change the selected text to Courier New font type.
Click the Font list arrow and select Courier New from the Font list.
The selected text changes to the Courier New font.
You can also change the size of a font and make it larger or smaller. Font size is
measured in points: the bigger the point number, the larger the size of the font. 10 point
and 12 point are the most commonly used font sizes. Changing the font size is similar
to changing font types.
Make sure the To the La Fanci Nails Company: line is still selected,
and click the Font Size list arrow.
A list of font sizes appears.
Select 14 from the Font Size list.
The font for the selected line is enlarged to 14 point.
So far, youve been using the Formatting toolbar to change the type and size of fonts.
Another method of adjusting the type and size of fonts is to use the Font dialog box,
which you can open using the menu. Since not all Windows programs have a
Formatting toolbar, you should know how to format fonts with this method.
Font Size list

the Font Size:
Select Format Font
the font options you
want from the font
dialog box, and click
OK.
Select Format Font from the menu.

The Font dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-19. Notice there are options for
changing the font type and size, as well as other formatting options. After youve
surveyed the Font dialog box, you can close it without making any changes by clicking
the Cancel button.
10. Click Cancel to close the Font dialog box without making any changes.
Table 7-5: Examples of Font Types and Sizes
Common Font Types
Common Font Sizes
Arial
Arial 8 point
Comic Sans MS
Arial 10 point
Courier New
Arial 12 point
Times New Roman
Arial 14 point
Quick Reference
To Change Font Size:
Click the Font Size list
arrow on the Formatting
toolbar and select the
point size from the list.
Or
Select Format Font
from the menu and select
the font size in the Font
dialog box.
To Change Font Type:
Click the Font list arrow
on the Formatting toolbar
and select a font type
from the list.
Or
Select Format Font
the font type in the Font
dialog box.
174
Lesson 7-12: Using Bold, Italics

and Underline
Figure 7-20
WordPads Formatting
toolbar.
Figure 7-21
Font script list
Font list
Figure 7-20
The document with bold

and italics formatting.
Align
Bold Underline Left
Font Size
list
Align
Right
Italics Font Color Center Bullets
Bold
Italics button
Other Ways to Italics:
Select Format Font
Italic from the Font
Style box, and then
click OK.
Press <Ctrl> + .
Italics
Figure 7-21
In the previous lesson, you learned how to format characters in a document by changing their
font type and font size. This lesson will show you how to emphasize text in a document by
making the text darker and heavier (bold), slanted (italics), or by adding underlining.
Bold button
1.
Quick Reference
2.
To Format Text with Bold,

Italics, or Underlining:
Click the Bold, Italics,
or Underline button on
the Formatting toolbar.
Or
Select Format Font
the formatting from the
Font Style list.
Or
Press the <Ctrl> key and:
 for Bold
 for Italics
 for Underlining
3.
4.
5.
Select the text La Fanci Nails, located in the first body paragraph of
your document.
You can make the selected text stand out by formatting with Italics.
Click the Italics button on the Formatting toolbar.
The selected text, La Fanci Nails, appears in italics. Notice that the Italics button is
pushed down on the Formatting toolbar, indicating the text is formatted with Italics.
Its just as easy to format characters with bold or underline formatting.
Select the line Subject: Glue Crisis.
Now format the selected text with bold formatting.
Click the Bold button on the Formatting toolbar.
The selected text appears in bold. To remove the bold style, repeat step 4.
Make sure Subject: Glue Crisis is still selected, then click the Bold
button on the Formatting toolbar.
The bold style is removed from the selected text. You can remove italic and underline
formatting from text by using the same method, except you would click the Italics or
Underline button.
175
Lesson 7-13: Changing Paragraph

Alignment
This paragraph is left aligned. This paragraph
is left aligned. This paragraph is left aligned.
This paragraph is left aligned.
Left Align
This paragraph is right aligned. This paragraph
is right aligned. This paragraph is right aligned.
This paragraph is right aligned.
Right Align
This paragraph is center aligned. This
paragraph is center aligned. This paragraph is
center aligned. This paragraph is center
aligned.
Figure 7-22
Centered
This paragraph is justified. This paragraph is
justified. This paragraph is justified. This
paragraph is justified.
Justified
Figure 7-22
Place the insertion point in
the paragraph you want to
align, or select the
paragraph(s).
Figure 7-23
Clicking the Center button
on the Formatting toolbar
centers the selected
paragraphs.
Figure 7-24
Left, right, centered, and
justified paragraphs.
Figure 7-24
Align Right button

Center button
Figure 7-23
This lesson moves on to paragraph formatting and explains how to justify paragraphs or align
them to the left, right, or center of a page. These are common formatting tasks for all word
processing programs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Place the insertion point anywhere in the last line, Jane Plain, and then
click the Align Right button on the Formatting toolbar.
The last line is aligned along the right side of the window.
Click and drag the mouse pointer to select the two body paragraphs, then
click the Center button on the Formatting toolbar.
The selected paragraphs are centered on the page.
Press the <End> key to move to the end of the current line, then press
<Enter>.
Notice the new paragraph will be centered like the one above it. Thats because when
you press <Enter>, the new paragraph inherits the formatting from the paragraph
above it.
Select the two paragraphs again, and click the Align Left button on the
Formatting toolbar.
The selected paragraphs are again aligned to the left.
Align Left button
Quick Reference
To Change a Paragraphs
Alignment:
Place the insertion point
in the paragraph and click
the Align Left, Center,
or Align Right button.
Or
Place the insertion point
in the paragraph, select
Format Paragraph
the alignment, from the
Alignment list.
Click the Save button on the Standard toolbar to save your work.
176
Lesson 7-14: Getting Help by

Contents
Figure 7-25
The Contents tab of the
Help window.
Figure 7-26
You can expand a Help
topic.
Figure 7-27
The displayed Help topic.
Figure 7-25
Figure 7-26
Figure 7-27
When you dont know how to do something in Windows or a Windows based program, dont
despairmost programs come with a built-in help feature. Help is one of the greatestand
sadly, one of the least usedfeatures of most Windows programs. There is often more
information about how to use a program under the Help feature than there is in the program
manual! Many people actually learn how to use entire programs by simply using the Help
feature of the program when they dont know how to do something.
Help allows you to try new, exciting things in programs all by yourself. It simply cannot be
stressed how important and useful the Help feature is. There are several ways you can get help
in Windowswell look at them in the next couple of lessons.
For this lesson, imagine that youve seen several of your co-workers use different sized fonts
in their WordPad documents. You decide its time you learned how to change the size of fonts
in WordPad, so you decide to use the Help feature.
The <F1> key displays
help on what youre
doing.
1.
Make sure the WordPad program is open and press the <F1> key.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
177
The Help window appears with the Contents tab in front, as shown in Figure 7-25. One
way to get help is by going to Contents. Using Helps Contents is similar to using a
books table of contents. Helps Contents is a good way to get general information on a
topic, especially if its a subject youre not familiar with. The Helps Contents are
organized in outline form. The book icons that appear to the left of a topic tell you
there are sub-topics. To view this information, you have to open or expand the topic by
clicking it.
Click the WordPad icon and then click the Format Text topic to expand
it.
The topic opens and a list of sub-topics appear under it, as shown in Figure 7-26.
Options button
Click the Change a font type, style, or size topic (it has a question
mark icon that appears to the left of it).
Information on text formatting appears in the right pane of the Help window, as shown
in Figure 7-27.
You can also easily print any Help topic
Click the Options button at the top of the dialog box and select Print
from the list.
The Print Topics box appears. We just want to print one topic.
Select Print Selected Topic and click OK.
The Print dialog box appears, ready to carry out your print command. Since you
already know how to print in Windows, save the paper and cancel the print job.
Click the Cancel button.
The Print dialog box closes and nothing is sent to the printer.
Quick Reference
To Get Help by Contents:

1. Press <F1> or select
Help from the menu bar,
and click the Contents
tab if necessary.
2. Scroll through the list and
click the help topic youre
looking for.
3. Click any Help
subtopic(s).
To Move to a Previous
Help Screen or Topic:
Click the Back button.
To Print a Help Topic:
Click the Options button
and select Print.
178
Lesson 7-15: Getting Help with

the Help Index and Search
Figure 7-28
The Index tab of the Help
dialog box.
Figure 7-29
The Topics Found dialog
box.
Figure 7-30
Using the Help button.
Figure 7-28
Figure 7-29
Figure 7-30
Click a control with the Help

cursor to view a description of
the control.
Two more methods of getting help are with the Help Index and Search. You use the Help
Index just like you would use the index in the back of a book.
1.
2.
If the Help window isnt already open, press <F1> to open it.
Click the Index tab.
The Index tab appears in front of the Help window. This time, lets get some help on
how to save files in WordPad.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
179
Type Saving in the Type in the keyword to find box.

The Index topics list box displays all index entries that begin with the words Saving,
as shown in Figure 7-28. A help topic called Saving Text is listedlets see what this
topic is about.
Double-click the saving text topic.
The Topics Found dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-29. We need to choose a
topic.
Double-click the Create, open, or save a WordPad document topic.
Information on saving changes to a document appears in the right pane of the Help
window.
The Search function is another way that you can search for Help topics. Search is much
more specific and powerful than either Helps Contents or the Help Index. Search
allows you to search for specific information.
Help button
Help cursor
Click the Search tab.

Next, you must specify what Help topic you want to look for.
Type Save in the Type the word(s) you want to find box and click the
List Topics button.
Both the words and topics lists are updated to show all Help topics that contain the
word Save.
You can refine a Help search by typing in more than one word.
Click after the word Save in the Type the word(s) you want to find box.
Press the <Spacebar> and type File. Click Display.
Both the words and topics lists are updated and display only those help topics that
contain both the words Save and File in them.
Double-click the WordPad overview topic.
Windows displays the WordPad overview Help topic.
10. Click the Close button.
During your journey with Windows you will probably come across dialog boxes with a
number of confusing controls and options. To help you find out what the various
controls and options in a dialog box do, many dialog boxes contain a Help button,
located right next to the Close button.
11. Select Format Paragraph from the menu.
The Paragraph dialog box appears. Notice the Help button located in the dialog boxs
title bar just to the left of the dialog boxs close button.
12. Click the Help button.
The mouse pointer changes, indicating you can point to anything in the dialog box to
find out what it does, as shown in Figure 7-30.
13. Click the Alignment list arrow.
A screen tip appears with a brief description of the options in the Alignment list.
14. Click Cancel.
Thats ityoure done learning the various ways to get help in Windows. If you know how to
use a programs Help feature, you may never need to attend another computer class
everything you need to know is there, buried somewhere in Help. Make yourself a promise
that the next time you have a question about how to do something in a program, you will try
using the programs built-in Help feature before you reach for the manual or ask one of your
computer-savvy friends.
Quick Reference
To Use the Help Index:
Help Help Topics
from the menu and click
the Index tab.
2. Type the keyword(s) that
describe the help topic
you are looking for.
3. Double-click the help
topic youre looking for.
To Find a Help Topic:
Help from the menu and
click the Search tab.
2. Type the keyword(s) that
best describes the topic
you are looking for.
3. Double-click the Help
topic youre looking for.
To See what a Control in a
Dialog Box Does:
1. Click the dialog box
Whats This button
(located right next to the
Close button).
2. Click the control you want
more information on with
the Help cursor.
180
Lesson 7-16: Saving and Opening

Files in Different Locations
Look in list
Select the drive or folder where you
want to open or save the file.
Figure 7-31
The Open/Save toolbar.
Figure 7-32
The Open dialog box for
the WordPad program.
Figure 7-31
Return to the
last folder
visited.
Create a new folder.
Move up one
folder level.
Display in
different views.
Figure 7-32
Open button
Other Ways to Open a
File:
Select File Open
from the menu.
By saving your files in related folders right away, you make them easier to find and dont
have to do as much file management later. This lesson will show you how to save your files in
different locations. Youll also learn how to save files in different file formats.
1.
2.
3.
If necessary, open the WordPad program.

Click the Open button on the Standard toolbar.
The Open dialog box for the WordPad program appears, as shown in Figure 7-32.
Before we open a file, first lets take a closer look at the Open dialog box.
Notice the toolbar that appears near the top of the dialog box, as shown in Figure 7-31.
Several of the buttons on the toolbar should look somewhat familiartheyre the same
toolbar buttons that youll find in My Computer and Windows Explorer. When youre
opening or saving a file you can navigate through the drives, folders, and files on your
computer just like you do in My Computer and Windows Explorer.
Your computer stores information in files and folders, just like you store information in
a filing cabinet. To open a file, you must first find and open the folder where its saved.
The Open dialog box has its own toolbar that make it easy to browse through your
computers drives and folders. Two controls on this toolbar are particularly helpful:
Look in list: Click to list the drives on your computer

and the current folder, then select the drive and/or folder whose contents you
want to display.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Up button: Click to move up one folder level.

The Open dialog box reads the contents of the practice folder or disk and displays any
Word for Windows (*.doc) files. Heres how you can view all the file types in the root
directory on the drivenot just Word for Windows files.
Click the File of type list and select All Documents (*.*).
The Open dialog box is updated to display all the files in the root directory of the hard
drive. Lets open a file.
Double-click the Canada Meeting Memo file.
WordPad opens the Canada Meeting Memo file. Normally, when you save an existing
file, its saved with its original file name in its original location or folder. There are
times, however, when you will need to save a copy of a file in a new location, with a
different file name, or in a different file format.
181
You can perform basic

file management, such
as renaming, deleting,
moving, and copying
files and folders from
inside any Open or
Save dialog box, just
as if you were in My
Computer.
Select File Save As from the menu.

The Save As dialog box appears.
Whenever you save or store files on a computer, try to save them in a related folder.
For example, you might create a Personal Letters folder to store all your personal
correspondence files and a Business folder for your business-related files.
NOTE: If you dont specify a drive or folder when youre saving a file, the program
will save the file in the current folderthe drive and folder that happens to be
open at that time. This can often make the file more difficult to find in the
future.
Double-click the Trade Show folder.
The Trade Show folder opensthis is where you want to save the file.
Earlier in this chapter, you learned that computer programs save and open files in their
own different types or formats, just like people from different countries speak different
languages. But just as some people can speak more than one language, many computer
programs can open and save files using other file types or formats. WordPad normally
saves files in Word for Windows (*.doc) format, but its easy to save files in different
formats.
Click the Save as type list arrow.
A list of different types of file formats appears.
Select Text Documents (*.txt) from the Save as type list.
One more thing before we save the filewe want to save it with a different name. If
you clicked the Save button at this point, WordPad would save the file in the Trade
Show folder with the original file name, Canada Meeting Memo.
To save the file with a different name, simply type the new file name in the File Name
box.
10. Click in the File Name box and type Canada Letter.
11. Click Save and click Yes to confirm the file format.
WordPad saves the Canada Letter as a text file in the Trade Show folder.
12. Close the WordPad program.
Quick Reference
To Save a File in a New
Location:
1. Select File Save As
from the menu.
2. Open the drive and/or
folder where you want to
save the file and click
Save.
To Save a File in a
Different File Format:
1. Select File Save As
from the menu,
2. Select the file format from
the Save as type list,
and click Save.
182
Chapter Seven Review

Lesson Summary
Using Menus
Open a menu by clicking the menu name with the mouse or by pressing <Alt> and then the
underlined letter in the menu.
Using Toolbars
Click the toolbar button you want to use.
To See What a Toolbar Button Does: Position the pointer over the toolbar button and wait a
second. A ScreenTip will appear above the button.
Filling Out a Dialog Box
Be able to identify text boxes, list boxes, check boxes, list arrows, and buttons.
Use a scroll bar to move up or down when a list or screen cant display all its information at once.
To Select a Dialog Box Control: Click the control with the mouse, or press <Tab> to move to the
next control in the dialog box or <Shift> + <Tab> to move to the previous control until you arrive at
the desired control.
To Use a Text Box: Type the information directly into the text box.
To Use a List Box: Click the option you want from the list box. Use the scroll bar to move up and
down through its options.
To Use a List Arrow: Click the arrow to display the list options. Click an option from the list to
select it.
To Save Changes and Close a Dialog Box: Click the OK button or press <Enter>.
To Close a Dialog Box Without Saving Changes: Click the Cancel button or press <Esc>.
Entering Text in the WordPad Program
To Enter Text in WordPad: Click in the WordPad screen to begin typing your text.
Editing Text
To Move the Insertion Point: Use the arrow keys on the keyboard or click where you want to
place the insertion point with the pointer.
To Insert Text: Move the insertion point where you want to insert the text and then type the text
you want to insert.
To Delete Text: The <Delete> key deletes text after, or to the right, of the insertion point. The
<Backspace> key deletes text before, or to the left, of the insertion point.
183
Saving and Opening a File
To Save a File: Click the Save button on the Standard toolbar or select File Save from the
menu.
To Open a File: Click the Open button on the Standard toolbar or select File Open from the
menu.
Selecting, Replacing and Deleting Text
To Select Text with the Mouse: Move the insertion point to the beginning or end of the text you
want to select. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the insertion point across the text,
releasing the mouse button once the text is selected. Or double-click a word to select it.
To Select Text with the Keyboard: Move the insertion point to the beginning or end of the text you
want to select and press and hold the <Shift> key while you use the arrow keys to select the text.
To Replace Text: Replace text by first selecting it, then typing the new text.
To Deselect Text: Click anywhere on the computer screen.
To Delete Text: Select the text. Press the <Delete> key.
Using Undo
To Undo Your Last Action: Click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar, or select Edit
Undo from the menu, or press <Ctrl> + <Z>.
Printing a File
Print a file by clicking the Print button on the Standard toolbar, or by selecting File Print from
the menu, or by pressing <Ctrl> + .
Select File Print from the menu to display the Print dialog box, which allows you to specify
printing optionssuch as printing specific pages or multiple copies.
Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text
To Cut an Object or Text: Select the text or object you want to cut. Click the Cut button on the
Standard toolbar, or select Edit Cut from the menu, or press <Ctrl> + <X>.
To Copy an Object or Text: Select the text or object you want to copy. Click the Copy button on
the Standard toolbar, or select Edit Copy from the menu, or press <Ctrl> + <C>.
To Paste a Cut or Copied Object: Place the insertion point where you want to paste the text or
object. Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar, or select Edit Paste from the menu, or
press <Ctrl> + <V>.
Changing the Font Type and Size
To Change Font Size: Click the Font Size list arrow on the Formatting toolbar and select the point
size from the list, or select Format Font from the menu and select the font size in the dialog
box.
To Change Font Type: Click the Font list arrow on the Formatting toolbar and select a font type
from the list, or select Format Font from the menu and select the font type in the Font dialog
box.
184
Using Bold, Italics and Underline
Format text with bold, italics, or underlining by clicking the corresponding button (Bold, Italics, or
Underline) on the Formatting toolbar or by selecting Format Font from the menu and selecting
the formatting from the Font Style list. You can also press the <Ctrl> key and:
 for Bold
 for Italics
 for Underlining.
Changing Paragraph Alignment
Change a paragraphs alignment by placing the insertion point in the paragraph and then clicking
the Align Left, Center, or Align Right button on the Formatting toolbar, or by selecting Format
Paragraph from the menu and selecting the paragraph alignment from the Alignment list.
Getting Help by Contents
Pressing the <F1> key displays information on what youre currently doing.
To Get Help by Contents: Press <F1> or select Help from the menu bar, and click the Contents
tab if necessary. Scroll through the list and click the help topic youre looking for. Double-click any
subtopics if necessary.
Click the Back button to move to the previous help screen or topic.
To Print a Help Topic: Click the Options button and select Print Topic.
Getting Help with the Help Index and Search
To Use the Help Index: Press <F1> or select Help from the menu bar and click the Index tab and
type the keyword(s) that describe the Help topic you are looking for. Double-click the Help topic
that youre looking for.
To Find a Help Topic: Press <F1> or select Help from the menu bar and click the Search or Find
tab and type the keyword(s) that describe the help topic you are looking for. Double-click the Help
topic that youre looking for.
To See what a Control in a Dialog Box Does: Point to a control and click the Whats This
button. Click the control you want more information on with the Help cursor.
Saving and Opening Files in Different Locations
To Save a File in a New Location: Select File Save As from the menu, open the drive and/or
folder where you want to save the file and click Save.
To Save a File in a Different File Format: Select File Save As from the menu, select the file
format from the Save as type list, and click Save.
Quiz
1. You can open a menu in a program by: (Select all that apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Clicking the name of the menu with the mouse.

Pressing <Esc> and then the underlined letter in the menu name.
Pressing <Alt> and then the underlined letter in the menu name.
Saying Computer, open the (state the name of the menu here) menu.
185
2. How can you move the insertion point in WordPad? (Select all that apply.)
A. By pressing the arrows keys on your computers keyboard.
B. By using the mouse and clicking where you want to place the insertion point with the
pointer.
C. By selecting the Window Move Insertion Point command.
D. The insertion point is an immovable object and cant be moved.
3. Which key deletes text before, or to the left, of the insertion point?
A.
B.
C.
D.
<Page Up>
<Page Down>
<Delete>
<Backspace>
4. Typing overwrites, or replaces, any text that is selected (True or False?)

5. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. You can undo the last action or mistake you made by clicking the Undo button on the
toolbar or by selecting Edit Undo from the menu.
B. You can print the file youre working on by clicking the Print button on the toolbar
or by selecting File Print from the menu.
C. You should save your work or file whenever you think about it.
D. Files names can contain up to 8 characters.
6. The following will cut selected text or information and place it on the
clipboard (Select all that apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Pressing <Ctrl> + <X>.

Pressing <Ctrl> + <Delete>.
Clicking the Cut button on the toolbar.
Selecting Edit Cut from the menu.
7. Unlike cutting, when you copy something you cant see it on-screen (True
or False?)
8. Pressing <F5> displays Help on what youre doing (True or False?)
Homework
1. Either insert your Practice Files CD, or navigate to where your practice files are
located. If you dont know where they are, ask your instructor.
2. Start WordPad. Open the Homework 3 file from your practice files.
3. Select File Save As from the menu. Save the Homework 3 file as Memo on
the Practice CD in the D: drive, or in your practice files.
186
4. Move the insertion point to the end of the TO: line, press the <Spacebar> and type
All Staff.
5. Select the top three address lines.
6. With the top address lines still selected, click the Center button on the Formatting
toolbar to center align them.
7. Select the top North Shore Travel line and change the font type to Times New
Roman, the font size to 14 pt., and apply bold formatting.
8. With the top North Shore Travel line still selected, press the <Delete> key to erase
the line. Click the Undo button on the Standard toolbar to undo the deletion.
9. Select the text Sandra Willes, Communication Director and copy it by clicking the
Copy button on the Standard toolbar
10. Move to the very end of the document, press the <Enter> key to add a blank line,
type Sincerely, and press <Enter> four times to add several blank lines.
11. Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar to paste the text you copied in Step 9.
12. Save your work and exit WordPad.
Quiz Answers
1. A and C. Clicking the menu name or pressing the <Alt> key and the underlined letter in
the menu will both open a menu.
2. A and B. Either method will move the insertion point.
3. D. The <Backspace> key deletes text before, or to the left, of the insertion point. The
<Delete> key deletes text after, or to the right, of the insertion point
4. True. Typing replaces any selected text.
5. D. MS-DOS files had an 8-character limit, but Windows XP file names can contain up to
255 characters.
6. A, C, and D. All of these three methods will cut selected text or information and place it
on the clipboard.
187
7. True. Nothing visible happens when you copy something, but dont let this fool you!
Anything you copy is placed behind the scenes on the invisible Windows clipboard.
8. False. <F1> is the Windows help key.
Chapter Eight:
Working with Files
and Folders
Chapter Objectives:
Understanding storage devices, folders, and files
Using My Computer to navigate through folders and files
Opening, creating, and renaming files and folders
Copying, moving, and deleting files and folders
Restoring a deleted file, and emptying the Recycle Bin
Changing how information is displayed
Selecting multiple files and folders
Finding a file using the Search Companion
Using Windows Explorer
When you work at a desk, unless you make an effort to stay organized, all your papers and
files begin to pile up and become disorganized. It takes a little more time, but the same
phenomenon occurs when working with Windowsthe files you create using your computer
start to become cluttered, and are harder and harder to find.
In this chapter, youll take your first step beyond the Windows basics and enter the world of
file management. Youll learn how Windows stores information in files and folders, just like a
file cabinet does. Youll find you will need to clean and organize your files and folders from
time to time, just like you would the contents of a file cabinet. This chapter explains how to
organize your computer by creating folders to store related information, how to move and
copy files between folders, how to delete and rename files and folders, and how to retrieve a
deleted file if you change your mind. You can perform file management using several
different programsMy Computer, Windows Explorer, Files and Settings Transfer Wizard,
and the Open and Save dialog boxes found in most programs.
Prerequisites
click and drag, and
right-click.
How to use menus,
toolbars, and dialog
boxes.
192

Storage Devices, Folders and Files
Figure 8-1
Taxes
Love Letters
Letter to Bill

in a file cabinet.
Investments
Figure 8-2
Letter to Mary
Letters

on a disk.
A file cabinets information is

folders.

files and even several
subfolders.
Figure 8-1
A computer stores
information on disks.
Information on a disk is
folders or directories.
Figure 8-2

files and subfolders.
In order to understand file management, you need to understand how your computer stores
information. Filing cabinets store information in files, which are organized and grouped in
folders and kept in big drawers. Computers also store information in files, which are also
organized and grouped in folders, and stored not in big drawers but on disks. A disk drive is
the part of the computer that reads and writes information onto disks, just like a tape recorder
records and plays music on a cassette. There are four main types of disks and disk drives that
computers use to store their information, as shown in the following table.
Table 8-1: Common Computer Disks/Drives
Type
Drive Letter
Size
Description
A or B
1.44 MB
Floppy disks are the square plastic things that look

like coffee coasters. Floppy drives cant hold a lot
of information, but theyre ideal for moving small
files, such as word processing documents,
between computers.
Over 10 GB
Local disks, or hard disks, hide permanently inside

your computer. Your computers hard disk is its
main filing cabinetwhere it stores almost all of its
programs and files.
Floppy Disk
Local Disk
Chapter Eight: Working with Files and Folders
Type
Drive Letter
Size
Description
D or above
600 MB (CD)
4.7 GB (DVD)
Compact discs, or CD-ROMs, look like the audio

discs you play in your stereo. CD-ROMs are cheap
and they can store a lot of information, which is
why theyre used to install software for games and
programs with a lot of multimedia.
CD-ROM or
DVD
193
DVDs are similar to CDs, but they hold even more

information. DVDs are becoming the most common
storage device for movies.
D or above
Over 100 MB
Removable
Drive
Removable storage drives have features of both

hard disks and floppy drives. Removable drives are
like a floppy drive because they read and write
information on small, removable cassettes. They
are like hard drives because each cassette can
usually hold more than 100 MB and is almost as
fast as a hard drive.
Most computers come with a floppy drive, a hard drive, and a CD-ROM drive. However,
many new computers omit the floppy drive and have a CD-ROM drive and a DVD drive
instead. Your computer labels these drives with letters, as shown in Table 8-1: Common
Computer Disks/Drives.
Just as liquids are measured in quarts and gallons, computers save their information in units
called bytes. Unlike gallons, computers use the metric system, so 1,000 bytes make up a
kilobyte and 1,000,000 (one million) bytes make up a megabyte, as shown in Table 8-2: How
Memory is Measured.
Table 8-2: How Memory is Measured
Term
Description
Size
Byte
A byte can store a single character,

such as the letter J or number 8.
A single character
Kilobyte
(K or KB)
A kilobyte (K) is about 1,000 bytes

(1,024 to be exact). A kilobyte is
equivalent to a page of double-spaced
typing.
1,024 bytes
Megabyte
(MB or MEG)
A megabyte (MB) is about one million

bytesabout as much text as an
average-length novel.
1,048,576 bytes
Gigabyte (GB or
GIG)
A gigabyte (GB) is about one trillion

bytesabout as much text as several
encyclopedia sets.
1,000,000,000 bytes
194
Lesson 8-2: Using My Computer to

See Whats in Your Computer
Figure 8-3
My Computer displays the
drives, folders
(directories), and files that
are in your computer.
Figure 8-4
The Local Disk (C:)
Properties dialog box.
Figure 8-5
The My Computer toolbar.
Figure 8-4
Figure 8-3
Moves back or
up to the
previous folder
or level.
Figure 8-5
Moves back or
up to the
previous folder
or level.
Moves forward
to the last
subfolder or
level.
Search for files

and folders on
your computer
or on the
network.
Changes how
the contents
of the folder
are displayed.
Displays a
history of files
you have
opened
recently.
When you want to see whats in a file cabinet, you simply pull open one of its drawers. You
can view the information stored on your computers drives in much the same wayby
opening the drive you want to access. This lesson will show you how to look at the drives,
folders, and files in your computer.
Start button
My Computer
1.

The My Computer window appears, as shown in Figure 8-3. The main window lists all
the drives on the computer. Since your computer may be set up differently, the contents
of your computer may differ from those shown in Figure 8-3. Want to see whats inside
something? All you have to do is double-click the drive, folder, or file you want to
open.
Notice that although its not technically a program, My Computer appears in its own
window, with its own buttons, scroll bars, and menus. The My Computer window
works just like any other window youve been working with. You can move it, resize it,
and minimize it.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Double-click the Local Disk (C:) icon.

The contents of the (C:) drive appear in the window. What do all those symbols in the
window mean? Each item you see has an icon, or symbol, to help you identify what
type of item it is. Well take a look at what each of these symbols mean in an upcoming
lesson.
To move back to the previous folder or level, click the Up button on the toolbar.
Click the Up button on the toolbar.
Youve moved from the (C:) drive back to My Computer.
Now that you know the procedure for displaying the contents of a drive, move on to
the next step to display the properties of the Local Disk (C:) drive.
195
Local Disk (C:)
Up button
Right-click the Local Disk (C:) icon and select Properties from the
shortcut menu.
The disk drive hums as Windows examines it. After a moment, the Local Disk (C:)
Properties window appears, as shown in Figure 8-4. The Properties window displays
the amount of used and free space on the disk in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB).
Refer to the previous lesson if youre unfamiliar with these terms.
Click the Properties dialog box Close button.
The Properties dialog box closes. Go ahead and close the My Computer window to
complete the lesson.
Close the My Computer window.
Getting the hang of opening and exploring your computer? Good, because well be doing a lot
more snooping inside the contents of your computer throughout the rest of this chapter.
Quick Reference
To View the Contents of
Your Computer:
and select My Computer.
To View the Contents of a
Disk Drive:
Follow the above step to
open My Computer and
then double-click the drive
you want to open.
To View an Items
Properties:
Right-click the drive,
folder, or file and select
Properties from the
shortcut menu.
196
Lesson 8-3: Opening a Folder

Figure 8-6
Double-click a folder to
open it and view its
contents.
Figure 8-7
The files and folders
appear in the window.
Figure 8-6
The Address bar displays the

name of the current drive and
folder
Figure 8-7
Your computer stores related files together in folders, just like you do with your file cabinet.
In the previous lesson, you learned how to use My Computer to view the contents of your
computer and open a disk drive and display its contents. In this lesson, well go a little bit
further and show you how to open a folder.
Windows XP gives you your very own special folder named My Documents as a
convenient location to store all your files. Heres how to open the My Documents folder (and
any other folder).
1.
My Documents
2.
My Pictures
Click the Start button and select My Documents.

The contents of My Documents appear in the window. The My Documents folder
contains several folders, or subfolders. If you think about it, you probably do the same
thingkeep several subfolders inside a larger folderin your own file cabinet.
Double-click the My Pictures folder.
The contents of the My Pictures folder appear in the Window. Notice the Address bar
displays the current folder you are in: My Pictures.
3.
4.
197
Instead of clicking the Up button several times to jump back through several levels of
folders, you can click the Address bar to quickly jump to the root directory of any of
drive on your computer.
NOTE: This is where the comparison weve been using between a file cabinet and a
computer begins to break down a bit. When you file things in your file
cabinet, you probably never have more than two, possibly three, nested
folders (i.e. a folder inside another folder). Your computers folders, on the
other hand, can contain as many subfolders as you want, nested as deep as
you want, so you can have a folder inside a folder inside a folderad
infinitum.
Click the Address list arrow.
A list of your computers drives and the folder you are currently in appears. You can
click any folder or drive to go to that folder or drive.
Select Local Disk (C:) from the list.
You return to the root directory of the (C:) drive. The Address bar is a fast way to select
a drive, especially if you are in a folder that is nested several levels deep.
You can think of the Address Bar as your compass because even when youre exploring
unfamiliar folders nested deep in the far recesses of your computer, it always tells you where
you are. If you get really lost, you can always click the Address list arrow and jump back to
the familiar (C:) drive.
Address list
All this moving around your computer and opening disk drives and folders is a little boring,
but its something you have to get used to if you want to have any degree of proficiency with
Windows. Going back to our trusty file cabinet metaphor, imagine what would happen if you
didnt know how to open the drawers and folders in your file cabinet. How would you find
your tax returns if you were audited, or your insurance policy if you were in an accident?
Opening disk drives and folders, and being able to navigate through the contents of your
computer are among the most important Windows skills you can learn.
Quick Reference
To Open a Folder:
Double-click the folder.
To Move Back or Up to the
Previous Level or Folder:
Click the Up button on
the toolbar.
Or
Click the Back button on
the toolbar.
Or
Click the Address list
arrow on the toolbar and
select the appropriate
drive or folder.
198
Lesson 8-4: Creating and

Renaming a Folder
Figure 8-8
The File and Folder Tasks
menu.
Figure 8-9
Every Windows XP folder provides
easy access to common file and folder
management tasks. You can select a
file or folder and then click one of the
tasks described in Table 8-3: File and
Folder Tasks.
A new folder.
Figure 8-8
Figure 8-9
File and Folder

Tasks menu
Other Ways to Create a
Folder:
Right-click an empty
area of the window and
select New Folder
from the shortcut menu.
Windows XP comes with the My Documents folder which you can use to save your files in,
but sooner or later youll want to expand your horizons and create your own folders inside the
My Documents folder or on the network to help you better organize your files. This lesson
will show you how to create a new folder to hold and organize your files. Youll also learn
how to rename an existing folder.
1.
2.
3.
Click the Start button and select My Computer from the menu.
The My Computer window appears.
Double-click the Local Disk (C:) icon.
The contents of the (C:) drive appear.
Windows XP makes working with files and folders more efficient by listing the most
common file and folder management tasks next to the folder contents.
NOTE: You may have to resize the window to view these tasks.
Make sure the File and Folder Tasks menu is expanded.
Lets use this menu to create a new folder.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
199
Click the Make a new folder task in the File and Folder Tasks menu.
A new folder appears with a temporary name New Folder as shown in Figure 8-9.
Now all you have to do is move on to the next step and give the new folder a name.
Type Practice Folder as the new folder name and press <Enter>.
Your new Practice Folder is located in the root directory, or top folder, of the
(C:) drive. You can create a folder inside any existing folder the same wayby
opening the folder and then repeating Steps 3-5. You can create as many folders as you
like in order to develop your own filing system to help organize your files and folders.
Open the Practice Folder to display its contents.
NOTE: A file name can contain up to 255 characters, including spaces. File names
cannot contain the following characters: \ / : * ? " < > |
Double-click the Practice Folder to open it.
The contents of the Practice Folder appear in the window. Thats right, theres nothing
there. The Practice Folder is an empty folder, since you just created it.
Lets move back to the root directory.
Other Ways to Rename a

Folder:
Right-click the folder
and select Rename
Click the Up button.

You can easily change the name of a folder. Heres how:
Click the Practice Folder icon.
Now lets rename the folder. Heres how:
Click the Rename this folder task in the Files and Folders Tasks menu,
type Temp Folder and press <Enter>.
The Practice Folder is renamed Temp Folder.
NOTE: Because you change the file path of all the files stored within a folder, be
careful when you rename a folder. For example, a hyperlink that uses this file
path: C:\My Documents\Picnic to link to a file wont work anymore if the file
path is changed to C:\My Documents\Picnic Project.
Table 8-3: File and Folder Tasks

Task
Description
Quick Reference
To Create a New Folder:
1. Open the disk or folder
where you want to create
the new folder.
2. Select the Make a new
folder task from the File
and Folder Tasks menu.
Or
Right-click any empty
area in the window and
select New Folder
3. Type a name for the
folder and press <Enter>.
Make a new folder
Creates a new folder.
Rename this folder
Gives the selected file or folder a new name.
Move this folder
Moves the selected items to the destination you choose.
Copy this folder
Copies the selected items to the destination you choose.
To Rename a Folder:
Publish this folder to the Web
Transfers a copy of the selected items to a public Web page so

that you can share them with other people.
Share this folder
Makes the selected folder available to computers on a network

so that other people can access it.
E-mail this folders files
Sends an e-mail message with copies of the selected items

attached.
Click the folder to select

it, select the Rename this
folder task from the File
and Folder Tasks menu,
type a name for the folder
and press <Enter>.
Or
Delete this folder
Deletes the selected items and sends them to the Recycle Bin.
Right-click the folder,

select Rename from the
shortcut menu, type a
name for the folder and
press <Enter>.
200
Lesson 8-5: Copying, Moving and

Deleting a Folder
Figure 8-10
To move a folder, drag it to
a new location on your
computer, in this case to
the Temp Folder.
Figure 8-11
The Move Items dialog
box lets you specify where
you want to move or copy
a file or folder.
Figure 8-10
Figure 8-11
You probably dont reorganize the folders in your file cabinet very oftenand you probably
wont need to move or copy the folders on your computer very often, either. When you find
you do need to move or copy a folder however, you can do so by using one of two simple
methods:
To copy a folder, hold
down the <Ctrl> key as
you drag the folder to
the new location.
Clicking and dragging.
Using the File and Folder Tasks menu.
Youll learn how to use both methods in this lesson and how to delete a folder when you no
longer need it.
1.
Other Ways to Move a
File or Folder:
Cut the file or folder by
selecting Edit Cut
from the menu or
pressing <Ctrl> + <X>,
moving to the desired
location and then
pasting the file or folder
by selecting Edit
Paste from the menu,
or pressing <Ctrl> +
<V>.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Create a new folder called My Stuff in your Local Disk (C:) drive.
You learned how to create a new folder in the previous lesson.
Click and drag the My Stuff folder to the Temp Folder, as shown in
Figure 8-10.
Already forgot how to click and drag? If so, here it is one more time: position the
mouse over the My Stuff folder, click and hold down the mouse button as you move
the pointer to the Temp Folder, then release the mouse button.
The My Stuff folder is moved inside the Temp Folder. Lets make sure it worked.
Double-click the Temp Folder to open it.
Yep, theres the My Stuff folder.
Heres another useful method for moving folders
Click the My Stuff folder to select it.
Once you have selected the folder you want to move, go to the File and Folder Tasks
menu.
Click the Move this folder task from the File and Folder Tasks menu.
The Move Items dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 8-11. This is where you tell
Windows where you want to move the selected folder.
6.
7.
8.
9.
201
The Move Items dialog box displays the drives and folders on your computer in a
hierarchical view. A plus symbol ( ) or a minus symbol ( ) beside a folder means a
folder contains subfolders. Normally these subfolders are hidden. You can display the
hidden folders within a folder by clicking the plus sign ( ) beside the folder.
Click the My Computer plus symbol.
My Computer expands and displays its subfolders.
The Local Disk (C:) is where you want to move the My Stuff folder.
Click the Local Disk (C:) icon and click Move.
The dialog box closes. Lets see if the folder really moved to the right spot.
Click the Up button on the toolbar to move up to the root directory.
The My Stuff folder is moved from the Temp Folder back to the root directory of the
(C:) drive.
If you can move a folder you can copy a folder: to copy a folder, hold down the <Ctrl>
key while you drag the folder.
Press and hold down the <Ctrl> key while you drag the My Stuff folder
to the Temp Folder.
Although you cant see it, the My Stuff folder has been copied to the Temp Folder.
Lets make sure.
10. Double-click the Temp Folder to open it.
The contents of the Temp Folder appear in the window. Sure enough, the My Stuff
folder has been copied there.
11. Click the Up button to move back to the root directory.

Next, well delete a folder.
12. Click the Temp Folder to select it and then press the <Delete> key.
A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm the deletion.
13. Click Yes to delete the folder.
The Temp Folder and all its contents are deleted and disappear from the window.
Windows places any deleted files or folders in the Recycle Bin in case you change your
mind later on and decide you want to restore the file or folder. Well discuss the
Recycle Bin in an upcoming lesson.
NOTE: Deleting a folder can be dangerous. Before you delete a folder, make sure it
doesnt contain any important files. If you dont know what the contents of a
folder are, you shouldnt delete it.
14. Delete the My Stuff folder by repeating steps 12 and 13 and then close
the My Computer window.
Weve worked on copying and moving folders to locations on the same drive, but you can
also copy a folder to a different drive by dragging it to the drive icon where you want it
copied. If you cant see the drive or folder where you want to move or copy something, you
can open a second My Computer window and drag the folder from one window to the other.
Quick Reference
To Move a Folder:
Drag the folder to the
desired location (you
might have to open
another My Computer
window).
Or
1. Select the folder and click
the Move this folder task
from the File and Folder
Tasks menu.
2. Select the folder or drive
where you want to move
the folder and click Move.
To Copy a Folder:
Hold down the <Ctrl> key
while you drag the folder
to the desired location
(you might have to open
another window).
Or
1. Select the folder and click
the Copy this folder task
in the File and Folder
Tasks menu.
2. Select the drive or folder
where you want to copy
the folder and click Copy.
To Delete a Folder:
1. Select the folder and
press <Delete>.
Or
Select the folder and click
the Delete this folder
task from the File and
Folder Tasks menu.
2. Click Yes to confirm the
folder deletion.
202
Lesson 8-6: Opening, Renaming

and Deleting a File
Figure 8-12
The Open Me file in the
Notepad program.
Figure 8-13
Select a file to display the
File and Folder Tasks
menu, or right-click a file
to display a list of
commands.
Figure 8-12
You can rename a file by selecting the
file and clicking the Rename this file
task from the File and Folder Tasks
menu
or by right-clicking the file and
selecting Rename from the shortcut
menu.
Figure 8-13
In the past few lessons, youve learned all about foldershow to open, rename, move, copy,
and delete them. In the next couple of lessons well be working with the files that are stored in
those folders. Working with files is very, very similar to working with folders. So similar, in
fact, that the procedures for opening, renaming, moving, copying, and deleting a file are
exactly the same as opening, renaming, moving, copying, and deleting a folder!
Start button
1.
2.
My Computer
3.
Open Me
4.
5.
6.
Navigate to and open your Practice folder.
Follow your instructors directions to select the appropriate drive and folder where
your practice files are located.
Find and double-click the Open Me file.
The Open Me file opens in the NotePad programthe program it was created in, as
shown in Figure 8-12. You could review, make changes to, and then save the Open Me
file if you wanted to at this point.
Click the Notepad programs Close button to close the program and the
Open Me file.
The Notepad program closes.
Youve already learned how to rename and delete a folder, so the next few steps should
be really easy: files are renamed and deleted in exactly the same way.
Click the Open Me file to select it.
Now we can rename the Open Me file using the File and Folder Tasks menu.
Click the Rename this file task from the File and Folder Tasks menu.
Type Text File as the new name for the folder, then press <Enter>.
The Open Me file is renamed Text File.
7.
8.
9.
203
When you no longer need a file, delete it.

Click the Text File to select it, and then press the <Delete> key.
A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm the file deletion.
Click Yes.
The Text File is deleted and disappears from the window.
Deleting a file isnt quite as dangerous as deleting a folder, but you should always
consider whether or not you might need the file again. Dont delete a file unless youre
absolutely sure you will never need it again. And NEVER delete a file if you dont
know what it is.
Close the My Computer window.
Other Ways to Rename a

File:
Right-click the file and
shortcut menu.
Other Ways to Delete a

File:
select Delete from the
shortcut menu.
Quick Reference
To Open a File:
Double-click the file.
To Rename a File:
1. Click the file to select it,
then select the Rename
this file task in the File
and Folder Tasks menu.
Or
shortcut menu
2. Type a name for the file
and press <Enter>.
To Delete a File:
1. Click the file to select it
and select the Delete this
file task from the File and
Folder Tasks menu.
Or
Select the file and press
the <Delete> key.
folder deletion.
204
Lesson 8-7: Copying and Moving a

File
Figure 8-14
To move a file, click and
drag the file to the desired
location.
Figure 8-15
The Copy Items dialog
box.
Figure 8-15
Figure 8-14
The procedure for moving and copying files is no different from moving or copying folders.
This lesson about moving and copying files should be a refresher for you.
Start button
Other Ways to Move or

Copy a file:
Click the file to select it,
select Edit Move to
or Copy to from the
menu.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
When copying or moving files or folders, you may find it easier if you have two
windows open at the same time: one window with the source file(s) and another
window for the destination where you want to move or copy the file(s).
Click and drag the Current Budget file to the Accounting folder.
The Current Budget file is moved inside the Accounting folder.
Open the Accounting folder to make sure the file was moved.
Double-click the Accounting folder.
Sure enough, the Current Budget file has been moved to the Accounting folder.
To copy a file using the click and drag method, press the <Ctrl> key as you drag the
file to a new folder.
Click the Current Budget file.
Now that the file is selected, you can move it to a different location.
Click the Copy this file task in the File and Folder Tasks menu.
The Copy Items dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 8-15. Now you can tell
Windows where you want to move the selected file.
7.
8.
9.
205
The Copy Items dialog box displays the drives and folders on your computer in a
hierarchical view. A plus symbol ( ) or a minus symbol ( ) beside a folder means a
folder contains several subfolders. Normally these subfolders are hidden. You can
display the hidden folders within a folder by clicking the plus sign ( ) beside the
folder.
Now copy the file to the Desktop of your computer.
Select Desktop in the Copy Items dialog box and click Copy.
The Current Budget file is copied to your computers Desktop.
NOTE: Some people actually do save their most important files to the Desktop so that
they wont lose them. Just make sure that you dont save too many files
therenobody likes a messy desktop!
We dont want to clutter your computers desktop with practice files, so lets delete the
Current Budget files from the Desktop.
Click the Accounting folder window Close button.
The window closes, allowing you to view the Desktop and the copied Current Budget
file.
Select the Current Budget file and press <Delete>.
A dialog box appears, asking if you really want to delete the file.
10. Click Yes.
The dialog box closes and the Windows deletes the file.
Quick Reference
To Move a File:
Drag the file to the
desired location (you may
have to open another
window).
Or
and click the Move this
Folder Tasks menu.
2. Select the folder where
you want to move the file
and click Move.
To Copy a File:
while you drag the file to
the desired location (you
might have to open
another My Computer
window).
Or
and click the Copy this
Folder Tasks menu.
2. Select the folder where
you want to copy the file
and click Copy.
206
Lesson 8-8: Restoring a Deleted

File and Emptying the Recycle Bin
Figure 8-16
Restoring files and
emptying the Recycle Bin.
Figure 8-17
The Recycle Bin shortcut
menu.
You can also restore

a file by right-clicking
it and selecting
Restore from the
shortcut menu.
Empty the
Recycle Bin.
Restore all files
in the Recycle
Bin.
Figure 8-16
Figure 8-17
Recycle Bin
contains deleted
items
Recycle Bin does

not contain
deleted items
Just like a wastebasket, the Recycle Bin stores all of the files and folders you have deleted. If
you change your mind and decide you need a deleted file, its easy to find and retrieve it. This
lesson will show you how to open the Recycle Bin and see whats inside, restore a previously
deleted file, and empty the Recycle Bin to free up some space on your hard disk.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Double-click the Recycle Bin.

The Recycle Bin opens and displays all the files you have recently deleted. If you
accidentally delete a file or folder, you can retrieve it from the Recycle Bin.
Select the Current Budget file.
Lets restore this file so it can be used again.
Click the Restore this item task from the Recycle Bin Tasks menu.
Restoring a file pulls it out of the Recycle Bin and puts it back in its original location.
Click the Recycle Bin window Close button.
Now make sure the Current Budget file is in its original location.
Verify that the Current Budget file has been restored to the Desktop.
Okay, you can delete the Current Budget file from the Desktop again, and this time we
wont restore it.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Delete the Current Budget file from the Desktop.

There is theoretically a limit to how many deleted files and folders the Recycle Bin can
hold. The maximum size of the Recycle Bin is normally set 10 percent of the hard
drive. For example, if you have a 10GB hard drive, the maximum amount of files the
Recycle Bin could hold would be 1GB. When the Recycle Bin reaches its limit,
Windows automatically starts deleting files from the Recycle Bin, starting with the
oldest file.
You can adjust the properties for the Recycle Binso you could adjust its maximum
size from 10 percent of the hard drive to 5 percentby right-clicking the Recycle Bin
and selecting Properties from the shortcut menu.
Usually its best to let Windows automatically handle the Recycle Bin, but you can
also manually empty the Recycle Bin if you need more free space on your computer.
Double-click the Recycle Bin.
The contents of the Recycle Bin appear.
207
Other Ways to Empty

the Recycle Bin:
Right-click the Recycle
Bin and select Empty
Recycle Bin from the
shortcut menu.
Click the Empty the Recycle Bin task from the Recycle Bin Tasks menu.
A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm your deletion.
Click Yes.
All the files and folders are permanently deleted from your computer. Notice the
Recycle Bin icon no longer holds any trash, indicating that it is empty.
NOTE: Be careful when emptying the Recycle Bin. Since Windows automatically
erases the oldest files from the Recycle Bin, you shouldnt have to manually
empty the Recycle Bin much at all. A lot of users empty the Recycle Bin just
about every time they delete somethingand then later kick themselves
because they realize they needed the file they just permanently erased.
Quick Reference
To Restore a Deleted File:
1. Double-click the Recycle
Bin to open it.
2. Select the file you want to
restore and click
the Restore this item
task in the Recycle Bin
Tasks menu.
Or
Right-click the file you
want to restore and select
Restore from the shortcut
menu.
To Empty the Recycle Bin:
Click the Empty Recycle
Bin task from the Recycle
Bin Tasks menu.
Or
Right-click the Recycle
Bin and select Empty
Recycle Bin from the
shortcut menu.
208
Lesson 8-9: A Closer Look at Files

and Folders
Figure 8-18
Letter to Sue.TXT
Files display different

types of icons to help you
identify what type of file
they are.
File Name
Can be up to 255
characters (although
older MS-DOS programs
will only see the first 8
characters, such as
Letter~1.txt).
Figure 8-19
Every file has a threeletter extension, which is
normally hidden from view,
so Windows knows what
type of file it is.
File Extension
Usually hidden from
view, these three
characters tell Windows
what type of file it is and
what type of icon to
assign to it.
Figure 8-19
Figure 8-18
Figure 8-20
The
Files with their three-letter

file extensions displayed.
WordPad.EXE file is located in:

In the C: drive
In the Program Files folder
Figure 8-21
In the Accessories folder
A files path name is

determined first by the
drive, then by the
folder(s), then by the file
name.
The WordPad.EXE file

So its path name would be:
C:\Program Files\Accessories\WordPad.EXE
Figure 8-21
Figure 8-20
Program Files
Root Folder
(Hard Disk)
Stuff
Windows
A root folder, or
directory, is the
folder from which all
the other folders
branch. When you
double-click the Local
Disk (C:) icon, the
window shows the
contents of the root
folder of the C drive.
In this lesson, well take a break from all that pointing, clicking and dragging and take a
closer look at files. When youre viewing the contents of your computer, youve probably
already noticed that everything has its own picture or icon to represent what it is. Folder icons
almost always look like little manila folders. Files, on the other hand, come in a variety of
types and icons.
There are two parts to every file: the file name, which youve already seen and are familiar
with; and the file extension, which is three letters that tell Windows what type of file it is (see
Figure 8-19). Since Windows assigns pictures or icons to the types of files it recognizes, it
normally hides these file extensions from view. Whenever you open a file by double-clicking
it, Windows automatically opens the file in the program it knows created the file. For
example, Microsoft Word always adds the file extension DOC to its files, so when you
double-click a DOC file, Windows knows it has to open the file in Microsoft Word.
The path of a file or folder is another common term. A file path is the drive and folder(s)
where a file or folder is locatedthink of it as a street address. A path contains the drive
letter, followed by a colon, followed by any folders (which must be separated by
backslashes \), and last comes the name of the file. For example C:\Program
Files\Accessories\WordPad.EXE (see Figure 8-21 for an illustration).
209
Table 8-4: Common File Types

File Icon
MS-DOS Program
Unknown File Type
Word Document
Excel Workbook
Paint File (BMP)
JPEG File
Text File
Shortcut File
Setup Program File
Description
MS-DOS programs are written for an earlier, more primitive operating system
than Windows. MS-DOS programs dont have the fancy graphics, icons, and
features of more advanced Windows programs. All Windows or DOS programs
have .EXE, or sometimes, .COM, extensions. EXE stands for executable,
meaning the file is a program that will run or execute when you open it.
Windows doesnt know what type of file this is, so you cant readily open it by
double-clicking it. That doesnt mean the file isnt important its probably a very
important file for Windows or a program. Leave these files alone unless you
absolutely know what they are for.
This is a document created in the word processing program, Microsoft Word.
Word documents normally have a .DOC extension.
This is a spreadsheet created with the program Microsoft Excel. Excel
spreadsheets normally have a .XLS extension.
This is a graphic file or picture, which was created in Paint or another graphics
program. These files are also sometimes referred to as bitmaps. The extension
for this particular type of graphic file is .BMP or bitmap. There are also other
types of graphic files that use different extensions and icons.
Another very popular graphic file, most of the photographs you see on the
Internet are JPEGs.
Text, or ASCII, files are simple files that only contain text no formatting,
graphics, or any fancy stuff. Text files usually have a .TXT extension.
Shortcut files point to files and folders elsewhere on your computer so that you
can quickly open that file, folder, or program without having to go to its actual
location. All of the programs in the Start Menu and some of the items on your
desktop are actually shortcuts that point to the program files, located elsewhere
on your computer. Shortcuts only point to files or folders, so moving, renaming,
or deleting a shortcut does not affect the original program or file in any way. You
can tell the difference between a shortcut and an original file because the
shortcut has an arrow ( ) in the lower left corner.
Setup files are special executable (EXE) program files, except instead of
running a program when opened, they install software programs onto your
computer.
Since Windows assigns icons to help you distinguish between the different types of files,
normally the three letter file extensions are hidden from view. You can tell Windows to
display the extension, but well cover that when we learn how to customize Windows.
210
Lesson 8-10: Changing How

Information is Displayed
Figure 8-22
A bullet () appears next
to the current view. Here
the window is displayed in
Icons view.
Figure 8-23
The window displayed in
Details view.
Figure 8-22
Figure 8-23
While in Details view, click the

column heading you want to use to
sort the items. Click the column
heading again to sort the items in
reverse order
When you work with files and folders on your computer, you may find that you need to
change how you view information on the screen. This lesson will show you how to change the
appearance of items using one of five view modes: Thumbnails, Icons, Tiles, List, or Details.
Experiment to find the view that works best for you. Youll also learn how to change the order
in which files and folders are sorted. You can sort the contents of files and folders by name,
date (when they were created), size, and type (what type of file they are).
Start button
1.
2.
My Computer
3.
4.
5.
Views:
Click the View button
list arrow and select a
view from the list.
6.
Windows normally displays items as icons by default.
Select View Icons from the menu.
You can display the most items in a window at a time by using List view. Try switching
to List view now.
Select View List from the menu.
The items are displayed as small icons in a list.
Details view displays information about each item, including the name, size, type of
item, and when it was created or last modified.
Select View Details from the menu.
You can sort items in a variety of ways: alphabetically by name, by size, or even by the
date they were last modified or saved. If youre in Details view, all you have to do to
sort the items is click the heading for the column you want to use.
Click the Name column heading to sort the items by name.
The list is sorted alphabetically by name. Clicking the heading again sorts the items in
reverse order (Z-A).
7.
8.
9.
211

You can have Windows arrange and organize items so that they appear in neat columns
and rows, instead of a cluttered mess.
Select View Arrange Icons by Auto Arrange from the menu.
A check mark () appears next to Auto Arrange when this feature is on. (You can skip
step 8 if Auto Arrange already has a check mark). Now, whenever you change the size
of a window, or add, move, or delete a file, Windows will automatically rearrange the
items.
Select View Arrange Icons by Name from the menu.
The list is sorted alphabetically by name.
Table 8-5: File and Folder Views

View
Description
Files and folders are displayed as icons. This is a good view
if youre learning to use Windows or have trouble clicking a
file with the mouse.
Icons
Files and folders are displayed as icons, but with more
information. The type and size of a file is displayed to the
right of the icon.
Quick Reference
To Change How Items are
Displayed:
Tiles
Files and folders are displayed as small icons in a list. This
is a great default view, because it allows you to see the
most files at a time.
List
Displays information about every file and folder, such as its
name, size, type, and when it was last modified. You can
change how the list is sorted by clicking the column
headings.
Details
This view is useful if you are working with pictures and
graphics because it previews every graphic file instead of
only displaying a file name.
Thumbnails
Select View from the

menu bar and select one
of the five views
(Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons,
List, or Details).
Or
Click the View button list
arrow and select a view
from the list.
To Arrange or Sort Icons:
If in Details view, click the
column heading you
want to use to sort the
window. Click the column
heading again to sort in
reverse order.
Or
Select View Arrange
Icons by and choose an
arrangement from the
menu.
212
Lesson 8-11: Selecting Multiple

Files and Folders
Figure 8-24
To select several files that
are next to each other,
hold down the mouse
button and drag a
rectangle around the files
you want to select.
Figure 8-25
When you want to select a
group of adjacent files,
select the first file you
want to select, hold down
the <Shift> key, and click
the last file.
Figure 8-24
1. Move the pointer to

an empty area in the
window.
2. Hold down the mouse button

and drag a rectangle around
the files you want to select.
Figure 8-26
Use the <Ctrl> key when
you want to select nonadjacent files.
Figure 8-25
Click the first

file you want to
select, press
and hold down
the <Shift> key
and click the
last file you
want to select.
Press and hold

down the
<Ctrl> key
while you click
each file you
want to select.
Figure 8-26
By now, you know that you must select a file or folder before you can do anything to it, such
as move or delete it. In this lesson, you will learn how to select more than one file and/or
folder at a time, so you can move, copy, or delete a group of files simultaneously.
1.
2.
Other Ways to Move or

Copy a file:
Click the file to select it
and select Edit
Move to or Copy to
from the menu.
3.

First, lets review how to select a single file.
Click the Paris file to select it.
The Paris file is highlighted, indicating that it is selected. Now you could delete, move,
or copy the Paris file. To deselect a file, just click in any empty area of the window.
Click any empty area of the window to deselect the Paris file.
The Paris file is no longer selected.
You can select more than one file or folder at a time, so you can delete, move, or copy
a whole bunch of files at once. Like so many Windows functions, there are several
methods to select multiple files. If the files you want to select are next to each other,
you can move the mouse pointer to an empty area of the window, hold down the mouse
button, and drag a rectangle around the files you want to select, as shown in Figure
8-24.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
213
Move the pointer to any empty area in the folder window, click and hold
down the mouse button, and drag a rectangle around several files, as
The only problem with this method is that it only works when you want to select files
that are next to each other.
Click any empty area of the screen to deselect the files.
Another method of selecting adjacent files and folders is to click the first file you want
to select, hold down the <Shift> key, and then click the last file of the group of files
you want to select.
Click the Carbrake file to select it, then press and hold the <Shift> key
as you click the Paris file.
Youve selected the Carbrake file, the Paris file, and all the files that are in between the
two.
Click any empty area of the screen to deselect the files.
To select non-adjacent files and folders, hold down the <Ctrl> key and click each item
you want to select.
Click the Carbrake file to select it, press and hold down the <Ctrl> key,
click the Paris file and the Trade Show folder, then release the <Ctrl>
key.
Remember, you can move, copy, or delete any selected files all at once. Holding down
the <Ctrl> key also lets you click and deselect any selected files.
With the files still selected and the <Ctrl> key still pressed, click and
drag one of the selected files (the Carbrake or Paris files, or the Trade
Show folder) from the folder window to your Desktop.
All the selected files are copied to the desktop.
10. With the newly copied files still selected on your Desktop, press the
<Delete> key.
The selected files are all deleted from the desktop.

To select all the files and folders in the window, select Edit Select All from the
menu.
11. Select Edit Select All from the menu.

All the files in the window are selected.
12. Close the window to end this lesson.
Quick Reference
To Select Multiple Items:
If the items are next to
each other, you can click
and drag a rectangle
around the items you
want to select.
Or
If the items are next to
each other, you can click
the first item you want to
select, press and hold
down the <Shift> key,
and click the last item you
want to select.
If the items arent next to
each other, you can select
non-adjacent items by
holding the <Ctrl> key
and clicking the items you
want to select.
To Select All Files at Once:
Select Edit Select All
from the menu.
214
Lesson 8-12: Finding a File Using

the Search Companion
Figure 8-27
The Search Companion
guides your search by
asking questions about
your search.
Figure 8-28
Beginning a music file
search.
Figure 8-29
The search results
window.
Figure 8-27
Figure 8-28
1. Choose the category

that describes what
youre searching for
2. Enter information
about the file youre
searching for
Figure 8-29
3. Finish the search, or refine

the search for better results
Its just as easy to misplace and lose a file in your computer as it is to misplace your car
keysmaybe easier! Luckily, Microsoft has simplified the search process by introducing the
Search Companion to Windows XP. A cousin of the Office Assistant, the Search Companion
helps you organize your search by asking certain questions, such as what you want to search
for (i.e. picture or file), which drive to search in, and the file name.
The Search Companion can search for files even when you cant remember the exact file
name or location. You can search for a file by:
The file name or any part of the file name.
The date the file was created or modified.
The type of file, such as a Microsoft Word document or graphic file.
The text within the file.
The size of the file.
You can set one or several of these criteria to search for a file.
1.
2.
Click the Start button and select Search from the menu.
The Search Results window appears with the Search Companion, as shown in Figure
8-27.
The Search Companion will ask you different questions to help you with your search.
For now, lets search for a music file.
Click the Pictures, music, or video option.
The next screen of the Search Companion appears, asking you for more details about
your search.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
215
Check the Music box. Click in the All or part of the file name text box
and type David Byrne. Click Search.
The Search Companion begins the search and displays the names and locations of all
the files that have the words David Byrne in their names. You can open any of these
files by double-clicking them.
Double-click the music file.
The music file begins playing in the Windows Media Player.
Close the Windows Media program.
If you dont quite remember the file name, you can always search by when you last
modified the file, or by the size of the file. We wont do a search using this criteria
right now, but we can at least go ahead and figure out where these options are located.
To start a new search, click the Search button in the Search Companion.
The first screen of the Search Companion appears.
Click the All Files and Folders option.
A dialog box appears, giving options to search by file name, text within the file,
location of the file, when it was last modified, size of the file, and other advanced
search options to choose from.
Type Practice folder in the search options dialog box, and click
Search.
The Search Companion searches for folder, and displays all finds in the results
window.
All Files and

Folders Search
Options
Click the Search Results window Close button.
Table 8-6: Search Options

Search For
Description
Pictures, music, or
video
Search for pictures and digital photos (.jpg, .gif, and .bmp); music (.mp3);
and digital video (.avi and mpeg) files.
Documents (word
processing,
spreadsheet, etc.)
Search for files created with a program, such as Microsoft Access (.mdb),
Microsoft Excel (.xls), Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt), Microsoft Word (.doc), or
Notepad (.txt)
All files and folders
Search through all types of files and folders.
Computers or people
Search for computers on your network or the name of a person in your

address book.
Information in Help
and Support Center
Search for information in Microsoft Windows XPs built-in Help system.
Search the Internet
Search the Internet for information on a key word or phrase.
Change Preferences
Change your search preferences, such as whether or not you want to

display an animated character or advanced search options.
Quick Reference
To Use the Search
Companion to Find a File:
and select Search.
2. Select the type of file you
want to search for.
3. Enter part of the file name
or text within the file. You
can also search for files
using the drop-down lists
at the bottom of the
Search Companion.
4. Click Search to begin
searching for the file(s).
216
Lesson 8-13: Managing the Search

Companion
Figure 8-30
Choosing a different
Search Companion.
Figure 8-31
Click Back and Next to
browse the different
character options.
Figure 8-32
Changing Search
Companion preferences.
Figure 8-29
Figure 8-31
Figure 8-32
Based on the Microsoft Office Assistant, the animated character in the Search Companion
does tricks as you perform your search. Whether your prior experience with animated
characters has been charming or annoying, this lesson will teach you how to manage these
new Microsoft darlings and how to change preferences in the Search Companion itself.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Click the Start button and select Search from the menu.
Theres Rover, eager to help you with your next search! Hes getting kind of old
though, so lets find someone with new tricks.
Click Rover (the dog) and click Choose a different animated
character.
Scroll through the different characters.
Click the Back and Next buttons to scroll through the different
characters. Click OK to select a new character.
Rover disappears and the new character pops onto the screen.
Though the new character may be an improvement from Rover, you may want to hide
the character altogether.
Click the character and click Turn off the animated character.
The character disappears but the Search Companion remains.
You can customize the Search Companion even more by changing its preferences.
Click Change preferences in the Search Companion.
You can change how the Search Companion works here. Refer to Table 8-7: Search
Companion Preferences for more information on these options.
217
Table 8-7: Search Companion Preferences

Preference
Description
With/Without an
animated character
Hide or show the animated character in the Search Companion.
With Indexing Service

(for faster local
searches)
The Indexing Service extracts information from your files while the
computer is idle, making searches faster.
Change files and folders

search behavior
Choose between Default and Advanced:

Default: Steps you through search options to help you define your
search.
Advanced: Manually enter your own search criteria. Recommended for
advanced users only.
Change Internet search

behavior
Search the Internet using the Search Companion, or using the classic
Internet search without the Search Companion.
Show/Dont Show
balloon tips
Toggle balloon tips in the Search Companion on or off.
Turn AutoComplete
on/off
Toggle AutoComplete on or off.
Quick Reference
To Change the Search
Companion Character:
1. Click the character and
select Choose a
different animated
character from the menu.
2. Click the Next or Back
buttons until you find a
character you like and
click OK.
To Hide the Character:
Click the character and
click Turn off animated
character.
To Change Search
Companion Preferences:
Click Change
preferences in the
Search Companion.
218
Lesson 8-14: Using Windows

Explorer
Figure 8-33
The Windows Explorer
window.
Click the Folders button

to show or hide the
Folders pane.
To view the contents of a

folder or drive, click the
folder or drive in the
Folders pane.
A plus symbol ( ) next

to a folder indicates
that all the subfolders
it contains are hidden.
Click the plus symbol
to display the hidden
subfolders.
Figure 8-33
The Folders pane

displays the folders
and drives on your
computer.
The right pane displays the contents of

the folder or drive you selected. This pane
works just like My Computer.
If you have been following the lessons in this chapter, by now you should know just about
everything there is to know about file management. You learned that you can use My
Computer to view and work with files and folders.
A minus symbol ( )
next to a folder
indicates that all the
subfolders it contains
are displayed. Click
the minus symbol to
collapse or hide the
subfolders.
This lesson introduces how to use Windows Explorer to view and work with the contents of
your computer. Windows Explorer displays the hierarchy of all the folders on your computer
in the Folders pane, as shown in Figure 8-33. This is especially useful for when you want to
copy and move filesyou can drag the files from the Folders pane to the appropriate folder in
the right pane. As a shortcut, you can also click the Folders button to view the Folders pane in
any window. You would have to open two My Computer windows to accomplish the same
thing.
If youre a Windows 95, 98, or NT user, this is the same as the Windows Explorer youre used
to; but now you can click the Folders button any time you want to view or work with
Windows Explorer.
1.
Folders button
Other Ways to Use
Windows Explorer:
Click the Folders
button on the toolbar.
Click the Start button and select All Programs Accessories

Windows Explorer from the menu.
The familiar My Documents window appears but the Folders pane is also open, as
shown in Figure 8-33. This is where Windows Explorer displays the hierarchy of files
and folders on your computer.
You can see whats in a drive or folder by clicking it in the Folders pane.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click My Computer in the Folders pane.

Windows Explorer displays the contents of My Computer in the right pane of the
window. Move on to the next step to look at the contents of the hard drive.
Click Local Disk (C:) in the Folders pane.
Explorer displays the contents of your hard drive in the right pane of the window. The
Folders pane displays the same drives and folders in a hierarchical view.
A plus symbol or a minus symbol beside a folder means a folder contains several
subfolders. Normally these subfolders are hidden. You can display the hidden folders
within a folder by clicking the plus sign beside the folder.
219
If there isnt a symbol

next to a folder, the
folder does not
contain any subfolders,
although it probably
contains files.
Click the Documents and Settings folder plus symbol in the Folders
pane.
The Documents and Settings folder expands and displays all the folders within it.
Notice that the plus symbol changes to a minus symbol, indicating the folder is
expanded and is displaying all the folders within it. Some of the Windows subfolders
also have pluses by them, indicating that they, too, contain several subfolders.
Click the All Users folder in the Folders pane.
The contents of the All Users folder appear in the right pane of the Explorer window.
Notice that the subfolders in the All Users folder are displayed in both the left and right
panes.
You can collapse or hide folders to reduce the amount of information on the screen.
Click the Documents and Settings folder minus symbol in the Folders
pane.
The Documents and Settings folder collapses and all its subfolders are hidden from
view. The minus symbol changes to a plus symbol, indicating that all the subfolders in
the Documents and Settings folder are hidden from view.
You can also adjust the size of the Folders pane.
Position the mouse over the right border of the Folders pane until the
pointer changes to a
, then drag to the right about a half-inch.
The Folders pane is now a bit wider.
Just like My Computer, you can change how information is displayed using the View
menu.
The contents in the right pane of Explorer are displayed in Icon view.
Select View List from the menu.
The contents in the right pane of Explorer are displayed in List view.
Its important to remember that the right pane is still basically My Computer, so the
procedures for creating, opening, renaming, moving, copying, and deleting files and folders
are exactly the same.
Quick Reference
To View Windows
Explorer:
and select All Programs
Accessories
Windows Explorer from
the menu.
Or
Click the Folders button
in a window toolbar.
To View the Contents of a
Drive or Folder:
Click the drive or folder in
the Folders panethe
contents of that drive or
folder will appear in the
right pane.
To Display or Hide a Drive
or Folders Subfolders:
Click plus symbol ( ) to
display any hidden
subfolders, click the
minus symbol ( ) to hide
any subfolders.
To Resize the Folders
Pane:
Click and drag the right
border of the Folders
pane.
220
Lesson 8-15: File Management

Using Windows Explorer
Figure 8-34
You can move and copy
files using click and drag
in Windows Explorer.
Figure 8-34
In this lesson, youll learn how to perform basic file management in the Windows Explorer
using the Folders pane. Specifically, youll move a file and create a new folder. Again,
although the Folders pane looks a little different than the rest of the My Computer screen, all
the file management procedures youve learned still apply. If youve followed the other
lessons, this should be a nice review of the chapter.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Make sure you have Windows Explorer open.

If you need to start Windows Explorer click, the Start button and select All Programs
Accessories Windows Explorer from the menu.
Click the Local Disk (C:) icon in the Folders pane.
The contents of the (C:) drive appear in the right pane, and it expands in the left pane
to show its subfolders.
Click the Practice folder to display its contents.
The folder expands and displays all the files inside it, and the plus symbol ( ) changes
to a minus symbol. Since you can see all the files in the right pane, its much easier to
move and copy files and folders.
Hold down the <Ctrl> key while you click and drag the CARBRAKE file
to the Accounting folder, as shown in Figure 8-34.
The Carbrake file is copied to the Accounting folder.
It wouldnt have mattered if you dragged and dropped the Carbrake file to the
Accounting folder in the left pane or the right paneits the same folder. Move on to
the next step and lets see if you can create a new folder while the Folders pane is
displayed.
Create a new folder named 2002 in the root directory of the (C:) drive.
Need a refresher on how to create a folder? First, click the (C:) drive in the Folder pane
to display its contents in the right pane. Next, click Make a new folder in the File and
Folder Tasks menu, type 2002, and press <Enter>.
6.
7.
8.
9.
221
Click and drag the new 2002 folder from the right pane to the
Accounting folder in the Folders pane.
Verify that the 2002 folder was moved inside the Accounting folder.
Click the plus symbol beside the Accounting folder.
The Accounting folder expands and displays all the folders inside it.
Try deleting a folder using Windows Exploreryou already know the technique.
Click the 2001 folder, press the <Delete> key, and then click Yes.
It doesnt matter if you use the left or right pane to select a foldertheyre the same
folder, and you can rename, copy, move, and delete folders in either pane of the
window.
Close the Windows Explorer window to end this lesson.
Congratulations! Youve just about completed what is probably the most difficult chapter in
the book.
Quick
Reference
To Move a File or Folder:

Drag the file or folder to
the desired location in the
Folders pane.
To Copy a File or Folder:
while you drag the file or
folder to the desired
location in the Folders
pane.
To Create a New Folder:
1. Click the disk or folder
where you want to put the
new folder.
2. Click the Make a new
folder task in the File and
Folder Tasks menu.
3. Type a name for the
To Delete a File or Folder:
Select the file or folder
and press the <Delete>
key. Click Yes to confirm
the deletion.
222
Lesson 8-16: Using MS-DOS

Figure 8-35
MS-DOS running inside a
window.
C:\WINDOWS\STUFF>
Figure 8-36
The current
drive youre
in.
The DOS prompt.
The path of the folder

youre in.
Figure 8-36
Figure 8-35
In the beginning, before there was Windows, there was MS-DOS. MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk
Operating System) didnt have any windows, pointers, or iconsyou ran programs, changed
folders, and copied files by typing difficult commands. Windows has been around for a long
time, so thankfully there arent many DOS programs still around. Regardless, one day you
might be on the phone with technical support and be told to go to an MS-DOS prompt. To
prepare you for that day, heres a lesson all about MS-DOS.
1.
2.
The * (asterisk) is a
wildcard character
use it as a substitution
for any part of a file
name in MS-DOS. For
example, typing
DEL *.TMP would
delete all the files
with a .TMP extension
in the current folder.
3.
4.
5.
Click the Start button and select Run.

The Run dialog box appears.
Type COMMAND in the box and click OK.
The MS-DOS Prompt window appears, as shown in Figure 8-35.
Yes, that stark, barren screen was all people had to work with to run programs, copy
files, and navigate between folders in the old-fashioned days of the computer. Notice
the DOS prompt, which tells you the current drive (C:).
Move on to the next step to see how you changed folders in MS-DOS.
Type CD WINDOWS and press <Enter>.
The clumsy, hard-to-remember command you just typed brought you to the
WINDOWS subfolder. Notice the DOS prompt changes to C:\ WINDOWS.
MS-DOS doesnt automatically display all the files and subfolders in the current folder
like My Computer or Windows Exploreryou have to tell MS-DOS to display the
contents of the current directory. Heres how:
Type DIR /W and press <Enter>.
The DIR (which stands for directory) command displays the contents of the current
folder. The /W switch tells DOS to display the contents in wide modeotherwise the
contents of the current drive wouldnt fit on one screen and you wouldnt be able to
view them all.
To run a program in DOS, go to the programs folder and type the programs name.
Type EDIT and press <Enter>.
The DOS-based EDIT program appears.
DOS programs arent as standardized as their more advanced Windows successors, so
even the most basic commands, such as how to exit a program, vary greatly between
programs.
6.
7.
8.
223
Press the <Alt> key then <F> (to open the File menu) then <X> (to exit
the EDIT program).
You exit from the EDIT program and return to the desolate MS-DOS screen.
Type CD .. and press <Enter>.
This cryptic command changes to the previous parent folder. Lets return back to the
warm and user-friendly world of Windows.
Type EXIT and press <Enter>.
The MS-DOS Prompt window closes.
Table 8-8: Common MS-DOS Commands

Command
Syntax
Description
A: (Drive Letter)
[drive letter]
Change the current drive.

Example: D: would change to the D: drive.
DIR
DIR
Displays the names of all the files and folders in a folder.

Example: DIR /W displays the contents of the current
folder in wide screen view.
COPY
COPY [source file]

[destination]
Copies one or more files to another location.

Example: COPY LETTER.TXT A: would copy the
LETTER.TXT file to the A: drive.
XCOPY
XCOPY [source file]

[destination]
XCOPY is a super-charged version of COPY.

Example: XCOPY A:*.* C:\NEW would copy all the
files in the A: drive to the NEW folder on the C: drive. If
the NEW folder didnt exist on the C: drive, XCOPY
would create the folder.
DEL
DEL [path]
[filename]
Deletes one or more files.

Example: DEL *.TMP would erase any files in the
current folder with .TMP file extensions.
RENAME
RENAME [old
name] [new name]
Renames a file or folder.

Example: RENAME LETTER.TXT APPROVE.TXT
would rename the LETTER.TXT file to APPROVE.TXT.
CD
CD [path]
Change the current folder. Type .. to change to the

previous parent folder.
Example: CD TEMP would change to the TEMP folder,
CD .. would change to the root folder of the C: drive.
MD
MD [folder name]
Creates or makes a new folder.

Example: MD DOCS would create a new folder named
DOCS.
RD
RD [folder name]
Deletes a folder.
Example: RD DOS would delete the DOCS folder.
Most DOS commands

have additional options
called switches, which
you specify after the
DOS command,
preceded by a /. Type
/? after a DOS
command to view all
the switches or
options for the
command.
Quick Reference
To Use the MS-DOS

Prompt:
and select Run.
2. Type COMMAND in the
box and click OK.
3. Enter your commands in
the DOS prompt.
To Exit Back to Windows:
Type EXIT and press
<Enter>.
224
Lesson 8-17: Creating and Using a

Compressed Folder
Figure 8-37
A zipped folder in the
Practice folder.
Figure 8-38
The Extraction Wizard.
A compressed folder
has a zipper on the
folder icon.
Figure 8-37
Enter the location where you want to

extract the compressed folder contents.
Click the Password button to enter the
password if the compressed folder is
password-protected.
Figure 8-38
Compressed
(zipped) Folder
Other Ways to Create a
Compressed Folder:
Right-click the desktop
and select New
Compressed (zipped)
Folder from the
shortcut menu.
You can reduce the amount of storage a folder and its contents consumes on a drive by using a
compressed, or zipped, folder. Compressed folders occupy less space on a drive, which also
makes them easier to transfer and share with other computers. You can work with a
compressed folder and its contents just as you would work with a regular folder.
1.
2.
3.

The contents of the (C:) drive appear.
Select File New Compressed (zipped) Folder from the menu.
A new compressed folder with a temporary name New Compressed (zipped) Folder
appears in the drive.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
225
Type Zip and press <Enter>.

The compressed folder is renamed, as shown in Figure 8-37.
You can save and move files and folders into a compressed folder just like you would
with a regular folder. Files and folders saved in a compressed folder are also
compressed, but this doesnt change how you work with them.
Click and drag the Seniors file into the Zip folder.
Notice that a copy of the Seniors file still appears in the Practice folder. A compressed
file is simply another version of the file, so instead of moving the original file into the
compressed folder, a compressed copy of the file is created.
Double-click the Zip folder.
The Seniors file really is in the folder. You can view the compression ratio (compressed
vs. uncompressed) by switching to Details view.
Views button
Click the Views button and select Details from the list.
Notice the Packed size column and the Size column, as shown in Figure 8-38. The
packed size is the amount of space the compressed file occupies. The size is the amount
of space the uncompressed file occupies. As you can see from the Ratio column, the
file has a compression ratio of 50 percent. Not bad!
Now lets make sure the file really hasnt changed, even though it has been
compressed.
Double-click the Seniors file.
The Seniors file opens in Notepad. As you can see, the file opens just as it would from
a non-compressed file.
Click the Notepad Close button.
The Notepad window closes.
Extracting is a term often used with compressed files. This is really just a technical
term for decompressing files by moving them out of a compressed folder. You can
extract a single file simply by moving it out of the folder. Or you can extract all the
files from the compressed folder at the same time.
10. Click the Up button on the toolbar. Right-click the Zip folder and select
Extract All from the shortcut menu.
The first screen of the Extraction Wizard appears.
11. Click Next.
Select where you want the extracted file to be saved.
12. Click the Browse button. Click Desktop and click OK.
If the compressed folder is password-protected, click the Password button to enter the
password.
13. Click Next.
The compressed files are extracted to the location you specified, as shown in the file
path in the Extraction Wizard.
14. Click Finish.
A new window appears, letting you know the files have been extracted.
Some files may exhibit better compression ratios than others. For example, JPEG
graphics files (which are already compressed) may actually become larger when
compressed.
Quick
Reference
To Create a Compressed
Folder:
1. Navigate to where you
want to save the
compressed folder.
2. Select File New
Compressed (zipped)
Folder from the menu.
3. Type a name for your
To Extract Files from a
Compressed Folder:
1. Right-click the
compressed folder
containing the files you
wish to remove and select
Extract All from the
shortcut menu.
2. Click Next.
3. Click the Browse button
and navigate to where
you would like to move
the extracted files.
4. Click OK.
5. Click Next, then click
Finish.
226
Chapter Eight Review

Lesson Summary
Understanding Storage Devices, Folders, and Files
Computers store information on disk drives using files and folders, just like you store information in
a file cabinet.
Know the following memory terminology:

Term:
Size:
Byte
A single character such as the letter j or number 8.
Kilobyte (K or KB)
1,024 bytes a typed page.
Megabyte (MB or MEG)
1,048,578 bytes a novel.
Gigabyte (GB or GIG)
Several encyclopedia sets.
Using My Computer to See Whats in Your Computer
Click the Start button and select My Computer to view the contents of your computer.
Double-click a disk drive in the My Computer window to display the disk drives contents.
To View the Properties of Something: Right-click the drive, folder, or file and select Properties
from the shortcut menu. For example, right-clicking a hard drive and selecting Properties from the
shortcut menu would display how much space is left on the hard disk.
Opening a Folder
Double-click a folder to open it and display its contents.
To Move Back or Up to the Previous Level or Folder: Click the Up button on the toolbar, click
the Back button on the toolbar, or click the Address list arrow on the toolbar and select the
appropriate drive or folder.
Creating and Renaming a Folder
To Create a New Folder: Open the disk or folder where you want to put the new folder. Select
the Make a new folder task from the File and Folder Tasks menu, or, right-click any empty area in
the window and select New Folder from the shortcut menu. Type a name for the folder and
press <Enter>.
To Rename a Folder: Click the folder to select it, select the Rename this folder task from the File
and Folder Tasks menu, type a name for the folder and press <Enter>.You can also rename a
folder by clicking the folder to select it, selecting File Rename from the menu, typing a name for
the folder and pressing <Enter>.
Copying, Moving, and Deleting a Folder
Move a Folder (Click and Drag Method): Move a folder by dragging it to the desired location,
such as another folder or onto the desktop (you might have to open another My Computer window
if you want to copy it to another folder).
Move a Folder: Select the folder and click the Move this folder task in the File and Folder Tasks
menu, select the drive or folder where you want to move the folder and click Move.
Copy a Folder (Click and Drag Method): Hold down the <Ctrl> key while you drag the folder to
the desired location (you might have to open another My Computer window if you want to copy it to
another folder).
Copy a Folder: Click the folder to select it, click the Copy this folder task in the File and Folder
Tasks menu, select the drive or folder where you want to copy the folder and click Copy.
To Delete a Folder: Select the folder and press the <Delete> key. Click Yes to confirm the folder
deletion.
227
Opening, Renaming, and Deleting a File
Double-click a file to open the file in the program that created it.
To Rename a File: Click the file to select it, select the Rename this file task in the File and Folder
Tasks menu, enter the files new name and press <Enter>. Or, right-click the file, select Rename
from the shortcut menu, type a name for the folder and press <Enter>.
To Delete a File: Select the file and press the <Delete> key. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Copying and Moving a File
You can copy and move files the same as you copy and move folders.
Move a File: Click the file to select it and click the Move this file task in the File and Folder Tasks
menu. Select the drive or folder where you want to move the file and click Move.
Copy a File (Click and Drag Method): Hold down the <Ctrl> key while you drag the file to the
desired location (you might have to open another My Computer window if you want to copy it to
another folder).
Copy a File: Click the file to select it, click the Copy this file task in the File and Folder Tasks
menu, select the drive or folder where you want to copy the file and click Copy.
Restoring a Deleted File and Emptying the Recycle Bin
To Restore a Deleted File: Double-click the Recycle Bin to open it. Select the file you want to
restore and click the Restore this item task in the Recycle Bin Tasks menu. Or, right-click the file
you want to restore and select Restore from the shortcut menu.
To Empty the Recycle Bin: Right-click the Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin from the
shortcut menu.
A Closer Look at Files and Folders
There are two parts to a file: the file name, which can be up to 255 characters, and the file
extension, which is three characters long and tells Windows what type of file it is.
The path of a file or folder is the drive and folder where a file or folder is located (its address).
Changing How Information is Displayed
To Change How Items are Displayed: Select View from the menu bar and select one of the five
views, or, select a view from the View button list arrow on the toolbar.
The five view modes are Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List, and Details.
228
To Arrange or Sort Icons: Select View Arrange Icons by and choose an arrangement from the
menu, or, if you are in Details view, simply click the column heading you want to use to sort the
window.
Selecting Multiple Files and Folders
By selecting multiple files and folders you can move, copy, or delete a group of files and folders all
at once.
If the files are next to each other, you can click and drag a rectangle around the files you want to
select. If you dont like that method, click the first file you want to select, press and hold down the
<Shift> key, and click the last file you want to select.
If the files arent next to each other, you can select random files by holding the <Ctrl> key and
clicking the files you want to select.
Select Edit Select All from the menu to select all files at once.
Finding a File Using the Search Companion
To Find a File: Click the Start button and select Search from the menu. Select the type of file you
want to search for and enter any part of the file name or text within the file. Use the Search
Companion to enter information (file name, size, type, text within the file, date it was last modified,
etc.) about the file youre searching for. Click Search to begin searching for the file(s).
Managing the Search Companion
To change the animated character, click the character and select Change the animated character
from the menu. Click the Next or Back buttons until you find a character you like, then click OK.
To hide the character, click the character and select Turn off animated character from the menu.
To change search companion preferences, click the Change preferences option in the Search
Companion.
Using the Windows Explorer
To View Windows Explorer: Click the Start button and select All Programs Accessories
Windows Explorer from the menu. Or, click the Folders button in a window toolbar.
To View the Contents of a Drive or Folder: Click the drive or folder in the Folders panethe
contents of that drive or folder will appear in the right pane.
To Display or Hide a Drive or Folders Subfolders: Click plus symbol ( ) to display any hidden
subfolders, click the minus symbol ( ) to hide any subfolders.
To Resize the Folders Pane: Click and drag the right border of the Folders pane.
File Management Using Windows Explorer
To Move a File or Folder: Drag the file or folder to the desired location in the Folders pane.
To Copy a File or Folder: Hold down the <Ctrl> key while you drag the file or folder to the desired
location in the Folders pane.
To Create a New Folder: Click the drive or folder where you want to put the new folder and click
the Make a new folder task in the File and Folder Tasks menu. Type a name for the folder and
press <Enter>.
229
To Delete a File or Folder: Select the file or folder and press the <Delete> key. Click Yes to
confirm the deletion.
Using MS-DOS
To Use the MS-DOS Prompt: Click the Start button and select Run. Type COMMAND in the box
and click OK, then enter your commands in the DOS prompt.
To Exit from the MS-DOS Prompt: Type EXIT and press <Enter>.
Creating and Using a Compressed Folder
To Create a Compressed Folder: Click the Start button and select My Computer from the
menu. Navigate to and open the folder you want to compress, then select File New
Compressed (zipped) Folder from the menu. Type a name for your folder and press <Enter>.
To Extract a File from a Compressed Folder: Right-click the compressed folder containing the
files you want to remove and select Extract All from the shortcut menu. Click Next on the first
page of the Extraction Wizard, then click the Browse button and select the folder you wish to
move the extracted files to. Click OK when youre finished, click Next, then click Finish.
Quiz
1. Computers store information on which types of disks? (Select all that
apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Floppy disks.
Hard disks.
Compact discs (CD-ROMs).
Removable disks.
3. The purpose of your computers folders is to: (Select all that apply).
A.
B.
C.
D.
Lose your important files.

Store related files and programs in the same place.
Make it difficult to delete things unless you really know what youre doing.
Organize related files and information on your computer.
4. .TXT, .DOC, and .BMP these are all examples of:

A.
B.
C.
D.
Three meaningless letters with a period in front of them.

File extensions.
Types of advanced degrees in computers.
How confusing computers are.
5. Which program(s) can you use to view and manage the contents of your
computer? (Select all that apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Netscape Navigator.
My Computer.
System Sleuth.
Windows Explorer.
230
6. You open a file or folder by double-clicking it. (True or False?)

7. Do this to display the contents of a certain drive or folder:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Right-click the drive or folder.

Click the drive or folder while holding down the <Alt> key.
Double-click the drive or folder.
Triple-click the drive or folder.
8. To view an objects properties, right-click the object and select Properties

from the shortcut menu. (True or False?)
9. When youre browsing the contents of your computer, do this to move back
or up to the previous level or folder: (Select all that apply.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Click the Up button on the toolbar.

Click the Back button on the toolbar.
Press <Ctrl> + <Z>.
Click the Address Bar on the toolbar and select the appropriate drive or folder.

A. You can move a file or folder to a new location by dragging and dropping it.
B. You can rename a file or folder by right-clicking it, selecting Rename from the
shortcut menu, typing the new name, and pressing <Enter>.
C. A plus symbol ( ) next to a folder in Windows Explorer indicates the folder is
locked and cannot be modified or deleted.
D. Holding down the <Ctrl> key while youre dragging and dropping something copies
it instead of moving it.
11. Delete a file or folder by clicking it, pressing the <Delete> key, and
confirming the deletion. (True or False?)
12. Do this to select multiple files and folders: (Select all that apply.)
A. Click and drag a rectangle around any adjacent files you want to select.
B. Select File Select Multiple Files from the menu, and then click the files you want
to select.
C. Click the first file you want to select, press and hold down the <Shift> key, then click
the last file you want to select.
D. Hold down the <Ctrl> key and click the files you want to select.
13. Which of the following statements is NOT true? (Select all that apply.)
A. You can find a file on your computer by clicking the Start button, selecting Search,
entering what you want to search for and clicking Search.
B. Open Windows Explorer by clicking the Start button and selecting All Programs
Accessories Windows Explorer.
C. To save a file in a location other than the programs default folder, you have to save
the file and then use My Computer or Windows Explorer to move the file to the
desired location.
D. You can display the contents of a drive or folder using Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List,
or Details View.
231
14. The three-letter extension of a file is normally displayed in Windows XP.

(True or False?)
Homework
1. Open My Computer.
2. View the contents of your Local Disk (C:).
3. Create a new folder in the root directory of your Local Disk (C:).
4. Name the new folder Project Files.
5. Delete the Project Files folder from the (C:) drive.
6. Open the Recycle Bin and find the deleted Project Files folder. Do you know how to
retrieve it?
7. Open Windows Explorer and view the contents of the (A:) drive.
8. Use the Windows Explorer View menu to display the contents of the (A:) drive in
List view.
9. While you're still in List view, sort the files in alphabetical order.
10. Use the Start menu's Search feature to find all the files named "readme.txt" on your
(C:) drive. Open one of these files by double-clicking it.
Quiz Answers
1. A, B, C, and D. Computers can store their information on any of these disk types.
3. B and D.
4. B. File extensions, which are used to identify the file type.
5. B and D. My Computer and Windows Explorer both display the contents of your
computer and allow you to manage your computers files and folders.
6. True. Double-clicking a file or folder opens it.
7. C. Double-click a folder to open it and display its contents.
8. True. Right-clicking an object and selecting Properties from the shortcut menu displays
the properties of the object.
9. A, B, and D. Any of these will bring you back to the previous level or folder.
10. C. A plus symbol ( ) next to a folder in Windows Explorer means the folder contains
subfolders.
11. True.
12. A, C, and D. You can use any of these methods to select multiple files and folders.
13. C. You can easily save a file in a different location by opening the drive and/or folder
where you want to save the file and clicking Save.
14. False. File extensions are normally hidden in Windows XP.
Chapter Nine:
Exploring the
Internet
Chapter Objectives:
Understand and connect to the Internet
Find a specific Web page
Browse and search the Web
Add Web pages to Favorites
Change your Home page
Display and clear a history of visited Web pages
Download pictures and software
Understand the Information Bar
Use the Pop-up Blocker
Understand how to secure your computer
Use e-mail
Unless youve been living on a deserted island for the past ten years, you already know that
the Internet is the biggest thing to happen to computers since well, computers! You cant
ignore itthe Internet is not going away and its already changing the world we live in.
Fortunately, for the most part, the Internet is incredibly easy to use. Even the most
computer-phobic users seem to feel right at home on the Internet.
This chapter explains the ins and outs of the Internet. If youve ever spent a sleepless night
wondering exactly what the Internet is and how it got started, youll finally learn it all. Well
discuss how to get your computer connected to the Internet, and how to surf the Web using the
Windows XP Internet Explorer, especially with the changes in Service Pack 2. Youll also
learn some useful tips like how to secure your computer, how to search for information, how
to bookmark your favorite Web pages so that you can easily come back to them later, and how
to change the Web page that first appears when you connect to the Internet. Finally, youll
learn how to download and how to send and receive e-mail.
Prerequisites
drag and drop, and
right-click
How to start programs
in the Start Menu
How to use menus,
toolbars, and dialog
boxes
236
Lesson 9-1: Introduction to the

Internet
Figure 9-1
WWW

network in the world,
consisting of millions of
computers, all over the
world, all connected
together.
Headlines
Figure 9-2
Web pages are stored on
Web serverscomputers
that are permanently
connected to the Internet.
Amazon
WWW
Figure 9-1
Figure 9-2
The Internet is the largest computer network in the world. It consists of millions of computers
all over the planet, all connected to each another.
The Internet was born in the 1960s when the United States military worried that a nuclear
bomb could destroy its computer systems (there werent many of them back then). So it
placed several computers far apart from each other and connected them with some super-fast
telephone lines so that the computers could talk to each other. If a nuclear bomb blew up one
computer, another computer could instantly take over; thus, the computer network wouldnt
go down. Years passed and other organizations, such as colleges and universities, started
connecting their computers to this growing network to share information.
Although the Internet has been around a long time, it wasnt until the 1990s that the World
Wide Web was born. The World Wide Web is what you probably think of when you think of
the Internet, although its really just a part of the Internet. The Web consists of millions of
documents that are stored on hundreds of thousands of computers that are always connected
to the Internet. These documents are called Web pages, and you can find Web pages on every
subject imaginablefrom your local newspaper to online catalogs to airline schedules, and
much more.
Web pages are stored on Web servers. A Web server is a computer, not unlike your own
computer, only bigger and faster. There are hundreds of thousands of Web servers located all
over the world. Web servers are always connected to the Internet so that people can view their
Web pages 24 hours a day.
So what can you do once youre connected to the Internet? Plenty. Table 9-1: What Can I do
on the Internet? shows just a few of the many things there are to do through the Internet.
Chapter Nine: Exploring the Internet
237
Table 9-1: What Can I do on the Internet?

Task
Description
Send and Receive

E-mail
Exchanging electronic mail (or e-mail) is the most popular feature on the
Internet. Just like regular paper mail, you can send and receive e-mail with
people around the world, as long as they have access to a computer and
the Internet. Unlike regular paper mail, e-mail is delivered to its destination
almost instantly.
Browse the World Wide

Web
The World Wide Web is what most people think of when they think of the
Internetalthough its really only a part of the Internet. The World Wide
Web is an enormous collection of interconnected documents stored on
Web servers all over the world. The World Wide Web has information on
every subject imaginable.
Join online discussions

with newsgroups
Newsgroups are discussion groups on the Internet that you can join to read
and post messages to and from people with similar interests. There are
thousands of newsgroups on topics such as computers, education,
romance, hobbies, politics, religion, and more.
Chat with other online

users
Chatting lets you communicate with people on the Internet instantlyno

matter how far away they are! Most chats are text-based, meaning you
have to type when you converse with people on the Internet. A growing
number of chats have voice and even video capabilitiesall without having
to pay long distance changes.
Download software
You can download pictures, demo programs, patches and drivers for your
computer, and many other types of files and save them to your computer.
Listen to music and

watch videos
You can listen to sound on the Web, such as radio stations, or music by
your favorite artists.
238
Lesson 9-2: Connecting to the

Internet
Figure 9-3
The Connections tab of
the Internet Options tab.
Figure 9-4
Specify how you want to
connect to the Internet.
Figure 9-4
Figure 9-3
Other Ways to Open

Internet Explorer:
Click the Internet
Explorer icon in the
Quick Launch bar.
There are three things youll need to connect to the Internet:
An Internet Service Provider (ISP): An Internet Service Provider is a lot like a

phone company, except instead of letting you make telephone calls to other people, an
Internet Service Provider lets your computer connect to the Internet. Just like your
telephone company, Internet Service Providers charge for their services.
A Web Browser: A Web browser is a program that lets your computer view and
navigate the World Wide Web. Windows comes with a built-in Web browserInternet
Explorer.
A Phone Line and Modem or Other Connection: A modem is your computers

very own telephone that lets it talk to other computers on the Internet. There are slower
dial-up modems that connect to the Internet using your phone and much faster cable
modems and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) as well. DSL is technology that provides
high-speed Internet access through standard phone lines. A cable modem connects to the
Internet through the cable hookup in your house. Both of these connections are much
faster than a dial-up modem and are connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, so you
dont tie up any phone lines.
1.
2.
Make sure you have an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
If you want, you can follow the step-by-step instructions and let the New Connection
Wizard help you find an Internet Service Provideror you can find your own. Ask a
computer-savvy friend or an employee at a local computer store for the name and
number of a local Internet Service Provider. Once you are set up with an Internet
Service Provider, come back and finish the rest of this lesson.
Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer from the menu.
Since you probably dont have an existing Internet connection you probably will get an
error page when you start Internet Explorerdont worry about it.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Select Tools Internet Options from the menu, then click the
Connections tab.
The Connections tab of the Internet Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure
9-3. This is where you tell Windows how you want to connect to the Internet.
Click Setup.
The Welcome to the New Connection Wizard screen appears.
Click Next.
You are presented with a few options; we want to use the default Connect to the
Internet option.
Click Next.
Next you have to specify how you want to connect to the Internet:
Choose from a list of Internet Service Providers (ISPs): If you dont

have an account with an Internet Service Provider you can select this option to
get set up with Microsofts very limited of ISPs.
Set up my connection manually: Although its not the default option, most
of the time youll want to set up your connection manually, especially if you
already have an account with an ISP. Be ready with your user name, password,
and, if youre still using a dial-up connection, phone number.
Use the CD I got from an ISP: If your received a CD from your ISP you can
insert it, select this option, and click Next although you can probably install
the software just as easily without the help of the New Connection Wizard.
Select the Set up my connection manually option and click Next.

More Internet connection choices, as shown in Figure 9-4. Heres what they are:
Connect using a dial-up modem: Use this option if youre still using a
dial-up modem.
Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name

and password: Select this option if you have a DSL or cable modem that
requires a user name and password to connect to the Internet.
8.
9.
239
Connect using a broadband connection that is always on: Most DSL

and cable modems always stay on and connected to the Internet; select this
option if you have this type of connection to the Internet.
You will probably have to refer to your ISP documentation to determine which of these
three options is right for you.
Select the option that best describes how you want to connect to Internet
and click Next.
The last step will differ, depending on which of the three options you selected; dont
worrythe rest of the Wizard should be self-explanatory.
Follow the remaining on-screen instructions, entering a name for the
Internet connection, your user name, and password when prompted.
Quick Reference
To Connect to the Internet:
and select Internet
Explorer from the menu.
Or
Click the Internet
Explorer icon on the
Quick Launch bar.
2. Select Tools Internet
Options from the menu
then click the
Connections tab.
3. Click Setup and click
Next, Next.
4. Select an option for how
you want to connect to
the Internet (usually
manually) and click Next.
5. Follow the remaining onscreen instructions,
entering a name for the
Internet connection, your
user name, and password
if prompted.
240
Lesson 9-3: Displaying a Specific

Web Page
Figure 9-5
The Microsoft Web site.
Address bar
Type the address of the Web
page you want to view and
press <Enter>.
Figure 9-6
When a Web page is
unavailable, this screen is
displayed in Internet
Explorer.
Figure 9-5
Figure 9-6
Other Ways to Enter an

Internet Address:
Press <Ctrl> + <L>.
Web addresses are everywhereon television advertisements, in magazine and newspaper

articles, and even on business cards. These www.something.coms youve seen and heard so
much about are URLs (Uniform Resource Locator). Just like there is a house, office, or
building behind a postal address, there is a Web page behind every Web address. Unlike postal
addresses, however, through the magic of technology you can instantly arrive at a Web page
by typing its Web address, or URL, into your Web browser. Well, hopefully instantly if
youve already been on the Internet for any amount of time, you probably know that
sometimes the Internet gets busy and net congestion can cause a Web page to come up
slowlyif at all! This lesson will show you how to visit the Web sites behind all the Web
addresses youve seen.
1.
2.
3.
4.
241
Connect to the Internet.

It doesnt matter where you are on the Internetyou can always enter a Web address in
the Address bar.
Click an empty area in the Address bar.
The text in the Address bar becomes highlighted.
Type the address of the Web page you want to view: type
www.microsoft.com and press <Enter>.
After a moment, the home page of the Microsoft Web site appears.
Web addresses are preceded by http://. For example, the address we want is
http://www.microsoft.com. Technically, you dont need to add the http:// before typing
the Web addresssave yourself some time and leave it out.
NOTE: If you forget the www in front of a Web address or a .com, an Internet
Explorer called IntelliSense attempts to correct the Web address by adding
the www or .com for you. Unfortunately, its not foolproof: sometimes it
works, sometimes it doesnt.
Lets go to another Web site.
Type www.yahoo.com in the Address bar and press <Enter>.
Possibly the most famous Web site on the Internet, the Yahoo home page, appears.
Sometimes when youre browsing the Web, youll see a screen like the one in Figure 9-6. This
means the Web site is unavailable. Several things can cause a Web page not to load:
The computer where the Web page is stored is down.
Too many users are trying to view the same Web page at the same time.
Youve lost your connection to the Internet.
The Web page no longer exists, or maybe it never existed in the first place (did you type
in the correct Web address?).
Address Bar
You can leave off the

http:// when you type
a Web page address.
For example, type
www.nbc.com
instead of
http://www.nbc.c
om.
For all these cases, try going to the Web site again later. Whatever was causing the problem
might be fixed a few minutes or hours later.
Quick Reference
To Display a Specific Web
Page:
Type the Web address in
the Address bar and
press <Enter>.
Or
Press <Ctrl> + <L>, type
the Web address, and
click OK.
242
Lesson 9-4: Browsing the Web

Figure 9-7
The Internet Explorer
toolbar. Your toolbar may
be different depending on
how your computer is set
up.
Brings you
back to the
previous
Web page.
Brings you
forward to the
next Web page
in the History.
Figure 9-8
The Yahoo home page.
Brings you
Stops
loading a to the Home
Web page. page.
Figure 9-7
Reloads or
refreshes
the current
Web page.
Opens
Edit the
Opens
Windows
current
your e-mail Web Opens Messenger.
program.
page. Research
task pane.
Shows
bookmarked
Web pages.
Search the
Web with
the Search
Companion.
View Web
pages
you've
visited
recently.
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Opens
the
Discuss
pane.
Opens
Encarta
Researcher.
Click the Address list arrow to

display a list of Web sites that you
have typed in.
Internet Explorer blocks popup windows that you dont

request. For example, all
pop-up windows are initially
blocked, but any pop-up
windows that you request to
open will appear.
If you are certain you want to
view a blocked pop-up
window, click the Information
Bar and select Temporarily
Allow Pop-ups from the
shortcut menu.
Prints
the
current
Web
page.
Figure 9-8
The World Wide Web is remarkably easy to navigate. Its so easy that most users have an
uncanny ability to browse through Web pages without any training, even if they have
difficulty with other computer programs. This lesson explains how to find your way through
the millions of Web pages that are on the Internet. Even if you already think you have
browsing down, you should read this lessonyou might learn a trick or two.
1.
2.
Instead of repeatedly
clicking the Back and
Forward buttons, you
can click the list arrow
to display a list of
previous Web pages.
Make sure your Web browser is open and that youre connected to the
Internet.
Hopefully you know how to do this by now! Lets go to the Yahoo home page.
Click the Address bar, type www.yahoo.com, and press <Enter>.
The Yahoo home page fills the screen. Many of the underlined words and pictures you
see on the Yahoo page are actually hyperlinks. When you position the pointer over a
hyperlink, it changes to a . Clicking a hyperlink will automatically:
Take you to a page within the same Web site.
Take you to a page in a different Web site.
Take you to a part of the same Web site.
Allow you to download a file.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Send an e-mail to a specified e-mail address.
Play a video or sound.
Position the pointer over the Travel icon near the top of the Yahoo page.
The pointer changes anytime it is over a link. Links can be either text or pictures.
Click the Travel icon or text.
The Yahoo Travel Web page appears.
You can easily move back to the previous Web page.
243
Link pointer
Click the Back button on the toolbar.

Youre back at the Yahoo home page. The Forward button moves forward through the
Web pages you have viewed.
Click the Forward button on the toolbar.
You return to the Travel Web page.
Just like a metro highway system at rush hour, the Internet often becomes congested
when too many users try to view the same Web site at the same time. When this
happens, it may take a long time for the Web page to appear on-screen, or it may not be
accessible at all. Here are a few strategies to try if you are having problems displaying
Web pages.
Refresh button
Click the Address bar, type www.microsoft.com, and press <Enter>.

Before the Microsoft home page completely loads, click the Stop button
on the toolbar.
You can also try refreshing a sluggish or difficult Web page. There are basically two
reasons to refresh a Web page:
To attempt to view a Web page that is not loading.
To update a Web page that contains information that is constantly changing,

such as headline news stories or financial information.
Click the Refresh button on the toolbar.

Another way you can return to previously visited Web sites is to use the Address bar,
which remembers every Web address that youve manually typed into it.
Click the Address list arrow.
A list of the Web addresses youve previously entered appears below the address bar.
10. Select the http://www.yahoo.com site from the list.

You return to the Yahoo Web site.
Quick Reference
To Use a Hyperlink:
Click the hyperlink with
the pointer.
To Go Back to the
Previous Page:
Click the Back button on
the toolbar.
To Stop the Transfer of
Information:
Click the Stop button on
the toolbar.
To Refresh a Web Page:
Click the Refresh button
on the toolbar.
To Return to a Web
Address you Typed in the
Address Bar:
Click the Address bar list
arrow and select the Web
address.
244
Lesson 9-5: Searching the Web

Figure 9-9
The Search Companion
task pane.
Figure 9-10
The Google search
engine.
Enter your
question
here and
click
Search.
Figure 9-9
Enter a word or phrase

you want to search for
and click search.
Figure 9-10
The Internets greatest strength is also its greatest weakness: with so much information
literally millions of Web pagesit can be extremely difficult to find what youre looking for.
Fortunately, there are many search engines that catalog the millions of Web pages on the
Internet so that you can find Web pages on topics that interest you, such as Google, Yahoo!
and Excite. In this lesson, youll learn how you can search the Web to find information on the
topics you specify.
Search button
1.
2.
Make sure your Web browser is open and you are connected to the
Internet.
Click the Search button on the toolbar.
The Search Companion pane appears on the left side of Internet Explorer, as shown in
Figure 9-9. This is where you specify what you want to search for.
3.
4.
5.
6.
245
Click the Search box and type your question.

For better search results, use complete sentences or several keywords that describe
what youre looking for. For example, typing Where can I find a good oyster
restaurant in Chicago? would yield better results than simply oysters.
Click Search.
The Search Companion searches the Web for results using the MSN search engine. The
results of the search are shown in the window to the right of the task pane, ranked by
relevance.
Click the Web page you want to view.
Are you finding irrelevant information in your search results? Then you may have to
refine your search. For example, a search on the word Windows may result in links
to Anderson Windows, Stained Glass Windows, and Microsoft Windows, while
a search on the phrase Microsoft Windows will result in links to Microsoft
Windows. Some search engines will let you search within your results. For example,
you could do a search for Microsoft Windows and then further refine your search by
searching the results for the word Networking.
Search Box
Click the Search Companion task pane Close button.

You dont have to use the Search Companion to surf the Webyou can go directly to a
search engines Web site and specify what you want to look for there. Table 9-2:
Popular Search Engines on the Web is by no means a definitive inventory of the search
engines that are currently available on the Web, but it lists the best and most popular
Web search engines and their Web addresses.
Table 9-2: Popular Search Engines on the Web

Site
Web Address
Description
AOL
search.aol.com
The default search engine for America Online subscribers, the

AOL search engine isnt bad, but youre probably better off using
Google or Yahoo.
Excite
www.excite.com
Excite once had a powerful, highly-rated search engine, but in

recent years it has fallen behind the other search engines in terms
of features and popularity.
MSN
www.msn.com
The MSN, or Microsoft Network, is not only the default search

engine for Internet Explorer; its also the default home page
(surprise, surprise). Even with that enormous advantage, both
Google and Yahoo still manage to be the preferred search
engines for most Internet users.
Google
www.google.com
Google is the most popular search engine in the world and its
consistently ranked as having the most relevant search results.
However, it doesnt contain many features other than its fantastic
Web search.
Yahoo
www.yahoo.com
Yahoo is actually more of a directory service than a search

engine, but it makes it very easy to find topics, especially if youre
new to the Internet.
Quick Reference
To Search the Web for
Information Using Internet
Explorer:
1. Click the Search button
on the toolbar.
2. Type the word or phrase
you want to search for in
the Search box and click
Search.
3. Click the link for the Web
page you want to view.
4. Click the Search button
on the toolbar to close the
search panel.
To Search the Web for
Information Using a
Search Engine:
Type the Web address for
the search engine in the
Address bar and press
<Enter>. Type the word
or phrase you want to
search for in the Web
pages Search box and
press <Enter>.
246
Lesson 9-6: Adding a Web Page to

Favorites and Changing Your Home
Page
Figure 9-11
The Add Favorite dialog
box.
Figure 9-12
Figure 9-11
Click the Favorites button

to view a list of your
favorite Web pages.
The name of the Web

page appears here.
Click the Web page you want
to visit. If the Web page is in
a folder, click the folder ( ).
Figure 9-13
The General tab of the
Internet Options dialog
box. You can change your
home page here.
Figure 9-12
Figure 9-14
The Organize Favorites
dialog box.
Figure 9-13
Other Ways to Add a

Web Page to Favorites:
Right-click anywhere on
the Web page and
select Add to
Favorites from the
shortcut menu.
Figure 9-14
You have finally found a Web page about hippopotamus food, and you want to return back to
it later. What should you do? Well, you dont have to write down the Web address on a Post-It
note and stick on your monitoryou can add the Web page to Internet Explorers Favorites
feature so you can always quickly return back to it later. In this lesson, youll learn how to add
your favorite Web sites to the Favorites list. Youll also learn how to change your home page
(also called a start page)the Web page that appears each time you start Internet Explorer.
1.
2.
Make sure the Web browser is open and youre connected to the Internet.
Go to a Web page that you visit frequently and want to add to your
Favorites list.
It doesnt matter how you get to the Web sitetype the pages Web address in the
Address bar (if you know it) or navigate to it by clicking a hyperlink from another Web
site. When the desired Web page appears on your screen, you can add it to your
Favorites so you can always easily return to it later.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
247
Select Favorites Add to Favorites from the menu.

The Add Favorite dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-11. The name of the Web
page appears in the Name boxif you want, you can replace the Web pages default
name with one that is more meaningful to you. Clicking the Create In button lets you
add shortcuts to a folder.
Other Ways to View Your

Favorite Web Pages:
Click OK to add the Web page.

A shortcut to the Web page is added to your list of favorites.
Heres how to display your favorite Web sites:
Select Favorites from

the menu bar and select
the Web page.
Click the Favorites button on the toolbar.

A list of your favorite Web pages appears in a panel on the left side of Internet
Explorer, as shown in Figure 9-12.
Click the favorite Web page you want to view.
If your favorite Web page is in a folder, just click the folder ( ) and then the favorite
Web site. The Web page you clicked appears in the right panel of Internet Explorer.
Is there a Web page that you really like and use almost every time youre on the
Internet? You might consider making that Web page your Home pagethe Web page
that appears each time you start Internet Explorer. Some of the search engines we
discussed in the previous lesson make excellent home pages. Heres how to make a
Web page your home page:
Go to a Web page that you want to set as your home page and select
Tools Internet Options from the menu. Click the General tab, if
necessary.
The Internet Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-13. The address of your
current home page appears in the box in the Home page section.
Click the Use Current button to set the Web page that is displayed on
your screen as your new home page.
Click OK.
The Internet Options dialog box closes. The next time you start Internet Explorer, the
Web page you selected will appear as your start page.
If youve added a lot of Web pages to your list of favorites, it can be difficult to find a
specific Web page out of all those entries. You can organize your favorites list by
creating subfolders to keep related Web pages togetherfor example, you might create
a folder called Travel to keep all your travel related Web pages together, and another
folder called Financial to hold your financial and investment related Web pages.
Heres how to organize your list of favorites:
10. Select Favorites Organize Favorites from the menu.
The Organize Favorites dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-14. We dont need to
go into detail hereyou can organize your favorites using the same Windows file
management techniques you already know (if you dont, review the file management
chapter). The Organize Favorites dialog box even provides you with several handy
buttons to move, rename, and delete files and shortcuts.
11. Close the Organize Favorites dialog box.
Favorites button
Quick Reference
To Add a Web Page to
Your List of Favorites:
Go to the Web page,
select Favorites Add
to Favorites from the
menu and click OK.
Or
Go to the Web page,
right-click anywhere on
the Web page and select
Add to Favorites from
the shortcut menu.
To Go To a Favorite Web
Page:
Click the Favorites
button on the toolbar and
select the Web page from
the left side of Internet
Explorer. Click the
Favorites button when
youre finished.
Or
Select Favorites from the
menu bar and select the
Web page.
To Change Your Home
Page:
Go to the Web page,
select Tools Internet
Options from the menu
and click the Use Current
button.
To Organize Favorites:
Select Favorites
Organize Favorites from
the menu.
248
Lesson 9-7: Displaying a History

of Visited Web Pages
Figure 9-15
Internet Explorer displays
a history of previously
visited Web sites.
Select the day or
week when you last
viewed the Web
page.
Visited pages are

grouped by Web
site.
Figure 9-15
History button
Cant find your way back to that really neat 101 Lutefisk Recipes Web site you were
looking at yesterday? Dont worryInternet Explorer keeps track of the Web pages youve
visited over the past 20 days. This lesson shows you how to access that list.
1.
2.
Quick Reference
To Display a History of
Visited Web Pages:
1. Click the History button
on the toolbar.
2. Click the day or week you
viewed the Web page.
3. Click the Web site you
want to revisit.
4. Click the specific Web
page you want to view.
5. Click the History button
on the toolbar when
youve finished.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Make sure the Web browser is open and youre connected to the Internet.
Click the History button on the toolbar.
A history of all the Web pages youve visited recently appears in the left side of
Internet Explorer. The history is grouped chronologically and by Web siteall you
have to do is click the day or week you viewed the Web page, the name of the Web site,
and the Web page.
Click the day or week you viewed the Web page that you want to view.
If you cant remember the day or week off hand, dont worry. Finding the Web page
you want to view in the history may take a bit of trial and error, because who really
remembers the exact day when they visited a specific Web page?
When you click a day or week, the Web sites you viewed during that day or week
appear, organized by Web site folder.
Click the Web site you want to revisit.
The Web sites individual Web pages appear.
Click the Web page you want to view.
The Web page appears.
Click the History button on the toolbar when youre finished working
with your history of recently viewed Web pages.
The History pane disappears.
249
Lesson 9-8: Clearing the History

of Visited Web Pages
Figure 9-16
The Internet Options
dialog box.
Increase or decrease the

number of days a page is
stored in history.
Click to erase the history
of pages you have visited.
Figure 9-16
You and your spouse have spent weeks planning and researching your surprise family
vacation this summer. Unfortunately, since many of your searches and reservations have been
made over the Internet, your Web-savvy kids know everything about the trip, thanks to the
History feature. You can take control of this feature by erasing the record of your Web
activity.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Select Tools Internet Options from the menu.

The Internet Options dialog box appears.
Clearing the history is permanent, so make sure this is something you want to do.
Click the Clear History button in the History section of the tab.
A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm the action.
Click Yes.
And just like that, the list of saved page links disappears.
You might also notice that you can change the number of days a page is saved in
history. By default, pages are saved for 20 days, but you can increase or decrease that
number if you want. Setting the number to zero only stores links to pages visited on the
current day.
Quick
Reference
To Clear the History:

1. Select Tools Internet
Options from the menu.
2. Click the Clear History
button.
deletion.
4. Click OK.
Click OK.
One thing to remember is that the history is different from the Back and Forward
buttons on the toolbar. The history keeps a record of every Web page that is visited
over a period of time. The Back and Forward buttons only remember which pages were
visited when the Web browser was open.
250
Lesson 9-9: Downloading Pictures

and Files
Figure 9-17
Specify where you want
the file to be saved on
your hard drive.
Figure 9-18
Windows displays the
progress of a download.
Figure 9-17
Figure 9-18
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer blocks
downloads that you do not
instigate. For example, if
Internet Explorer doesnt
think you requested a
download, or if the download
waits too long to begin, it is
blocked.
If you are certain you want to
download the file, click the
Information Bar and select
Download File from the
shortcut menu.
Another common use of the Internet is to download files from a Web server and save them
onto your local hard drive. Some of the most common types of files people download from
the Internet include:
Images: You can save any picture that you see on a Web page, print it, use it as your
Windows wallpaper, or anything else you can think of.
Programs: Many software companies have demo versions of their programs available
on the Internet that you can download and evaluate. In addition, thousands of shareware
programs are available for you to download for free!
Patches, Fixes, and Drivers: One of the great things about the Internet is finding
fixes for your programs, and drivers for your hardware devices, such as a driver for a
discontinued foreign printer.
Music: MP3s are revolutionizing the music industry. MP3 files are sound files that you
can listen to on your computer. They have digital CD quality sound, but use compression
so that they are 11 times smaller than the CD equivalent and small enough to be easily
downloadable from the Internet.
Viruses: Just kiddingthe last thing you want to download from the Internet is a
computer virus! Since you wont always know where a program or file you want to
download comes from, you should make sure your computer has a virus protection
program installed before you download anything from the Internet.
251
Aside from possibly contracting a virus, the only other downside of downloading files from
the Internet is that it can take a long timeespecially if you use a dial-up connection.
Downloading and saving programs over the Internet is quite simple: just follow the links on
the Web site. But you can also save other elements on a Web page, such as images and even
the pages themselves.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Right-click the image you want to save and select Save Picture As from
the shortcut menu.
Windows asks where to save the image in the Save As dialog box, as shown in Figure
9-17.
NOTE: Never download an image for free and then profit from its use: it is a
copyright violation. If youre looking for images to use in publications or
Web sites, there are many Web sites with stock images that you can purchase.
Be careful when
downloading files.
Many downloads are
free, but there are
also many that require
purchase.
Navigate to the drive and/or folder where you want to save the image,
give the image a different name, and click Save.
Windows saves the image in the specified drive and/or folder. If this does not work, the
image has probably been protected so that others cant download the picture and use it
for free.
You can also save a Web page or file thats on the other side of a hyperlink, the target
of the link.
Right-click the link or file and select Save Target As from the shortcut
menu.
Windows asks where to save the image in the Save As dialog box. As with images, you
have to specify where you want to save the file.
Navigate to the drive and/or folder where you want to save the file, give
the file a different name if you want, and click Save.
Windows will download the file and save it to the drive and/or folder you specified. It
may take several minutes or several hours to download the file, depending on the files
size and how fast your connection to the Internet is. Windows displays a dialog box
that shows the progress of the download, as shown in Figure 9-18.
NOTE: Make sure you remember where you save your files! Many people download
software without thinking about where theyre saving it, only to be unable to
find the file once its finished downloading. It makes sense to create and use a
folder called Downloads or something similar where you can save your
downloaded files.
One more note about downloading files and programs off the Internet: many of the programs
are stored in ZIP files. ZIP files package programs and files together, making them easier to
download.
ZIP files do two things:
Compress information: Instead of downloading a 2 MB file, compressing the file will

cut the download time in half.
Store multiple files together in a single ZIP file: Instead of downloading 20 or so

files that a program requires to run, you only have to download a single ZIP file.
Quick Reference
To Download an Image:
1. Right-click the image you
want to save and select
Save Picture As from the
shortcut menu.
2. Navigate to the drive and
save the image, give the
image a different name if
you want, and click Save.
To Download a Link
Target:
1. Right-click the link and
select Save Target As
2. Navigate to the drive and
save the file, give the file
a different name and click
Save.
252

Information Bar
Figure 9-19
The Information Bar,
notifying that a pop-up
window has been blocked.
The Information Bar

appears when a
security action has
been taken. Click the
Information Bar to
access a menu of
actions you can take.
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
The Information Bar notifies
you when a security action
has taken place.
Click the Information Bar to
overrule Internet Explorer or
to change settings.
The security icon appears in the status bar

when a security action has occurred.
The pop-up icon appears

in the status bar.
Figure 9-19
One of the most noticeable additions to Internet Explorer in Windows XP Service Pack 2 is
the Information Bar. The Information Bar notifies you when a security action has taken place
in order to protect you from harmful files. For example, it tells you when a suspicious
download has been stopped and when an unwanted pop-up window has been blocked. The
Information Bar could also appear if a Web site tries to install an ActiveX control or run
active content on your computer automatically.
Another benefit of the Information Bar is that it provides an opportunity for you to overrule
the block and proceed with the action. In the example above, the Information Bar has been
clicked and a menu appears with options to view the pop-ups that were blocked, or to even
change the settings of the pop-up blocker.
Quick Reference
To Use the Information
Bar:
Though you cant turn off the Information Bar altogether, you can change how it works with
each individual notification by clicking the Information Bar when it appears.
Click the Information Bar

and select an option from
the shortcut menu.
Here are some messages that you might see in the Information Bar:
Table 9-3: Information Bar Messages
To help protect your security, Internet Explorer

blocked this site from downloading files on your
computer. Click here for options
Pop-up blocked. To see this pop-up or additional

options click here
To protect your security, Internet Explorer

stopped this site from installing an ActiveX
control on your computer. Click here for
options
To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has

restricted this file from showing active content that
could access your computer. Click here for
options
253
Lesson 9-11: Using the Pop-up

Blocker
Figure 9-20
The Pop-up Blocker
Settings dialog box.
Enter the Web

address of a site
you want to exclude
from the pop-up
blocker here.
Sites that allow
automatic pop-ups
appear in this list.
Change how the

pop-up appears
in Internet
Explorer and its
filter level here.
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Internet Explorers Pop-up
Blocker prevents extra
windows from appearing on
your screen.
Figure 9-20
Another change included in Service Pack 2 is the pop-up blocker. The pop-up blocker
prevents annoying advertisement windows from disrupting your browsing on the Web. Most
people will appreciate the pop-up blocker, but if you dont, heres how to change its settings.
1.
2.
3.
Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Pop-up Blocker Settings from the

menu.
The Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-20.
If you know the Web site you want to allow pop-ups, you can enter the name of the
Web site in the dialog box.
Type the Web site in the Address of Web site to allow text box and
click Add.
The address is added to the Allowed sites list in the dialog box.
By default the pop-up blocker is always on, but you can turn it off.
Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Turn Off Pop-up Blocker from the
menu.
When the pop-up blocker is off you will probably experience some unwanted
advertising windows as you surf the Web. The pop-up blocker has a pretty good filter,
so between controlling its settings and making exceptions, you probably wont ever
have to turn it off completely.
You can change how the

Pop-up Blocker works by
clicking the Information Bar,
or under the Tools menu.
Quick Reference
To Change Pop-up
Blocker Settings:
1. Select Tools Pop-up
Blocker Pop-up
Blocker Settings from
the menu.
2. Change the Pop-up
Blocker settings in the
dialog box.
Or
Click the Information Bar
and select an option from
the shortcut menu.
To Turn Off the Pop-up
Blocker:
Select Tools Pop-up
Blocker Turn Off
Pop-up Blocker from the
menu.
254

Information Security
Figure 9-21
Windows XP has new
security features in
Service Pack 2 that help
protect your computer
from attackers.
Figure 9-21
Quick
Reference
To do this:
1. Step one here.
2. Step two here.
Information Security:
Information security is the
practice of protecting your
computer from intruders.
Here are some security
precautions that help protect
your sensitive information
Install anti-virus software.
Or
Update anti-virus
software.
Update software
Use firewalls
Be smart with e-mail
Security is a sensitive issue. We hire security officers to protect our workplaces, analyze
national security efforts, and install security systems in our homes. But many people arent
sure of what they can do to secure their computer, even though identity theft is occurring
more often now than ever before. Microsoft has added many security improvements to
Windows XP in Service Pack 2, and listed below are some security precautions and resources
that you can maintain to keep your computer safe.
Install anti-virus software: Every computer that accesses the Internet should have antivirus software installed on it. This software identifies potentially harmful files, and keeps
them from infiltrating your computer.
Update anti-virus software: One of the biggest reasons a computer gets infected is that
anti-virus software is not updated. Always download updates for your anti-virus software, and
always renew your anti-virus software license.
Update software: Always download updates and repairs for programs. This will prevent
attackers from exploiting holes in the software. Windows XPs Automatic Updates keeps your
computers technology safe and current.
Use firewalls: A firewall blocks malicious files or computers from connecting to your
computer. A firewall is especially important for computers that connect to the Internet via
DSL or cable modems. Windows Firewall has been added in SP2, but you can also choose
your own software program.
Be smart with e-mail: Viruses and worms are sent through e-mail messages all the time.
Never open an e-mail message from someone you dont know.
In the end, the best defense against a security problem is you. By using common sense and
avoiding sites, files and messages that look suspicious, your computer will be safe.
255

Windows Firewall
Figure 9-22
The tabs in the Windows Firewall dialog box
allow you to change its settings.
General
Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
The Windows Firewall

dialog box.
Exceptions
Allow certain connections through the
firewall, such as instant messaging requests.
Advanced
Change advanced settings, such as network
connections and security logging.
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Figure 9-22
You like to spend sunny afternoons out on your backyard patio. Unfortunately, so does your
neighbors slobbery dog. In fact, the offending canine is usually accompanied by its owner,
who has a knack for disturbing an otherwise pleasant afternoon. What do you do to keep these
uninvited guests out of your yard? Keep them out with a fence or a wall.
Just like your yard, when your computer is on the Internet, it is inundated with connections
from other computers. To keep these annoying intruders out, Microsoft has built a firewall for
your computer. A firewall is a utility that keeps your computer secure by restricting the
information that comes into your computer. Its main objective is to prevent intruders, such as
hackers, viruses and worms, from getting in to your computer. The firewall is like a monitor
of all the information between your computer and the Internet, allowing good information
through, and rejecting bad information.
So what is the difference between good and bad information? Basically, any connection you
try to make to another computer, such as viewing a Web page or connecting to another
network, is allowed. But when someone tries to make a connection to your computeran
unsolicited requestthat connection is blocked. Lets take a look at the Windows Firewall.
1.
2.
Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the menu. Click
the Security Center category.
The Security Center displays the security features that are active on your computer.
Click Windows Firewall near the bottom of the screen.
The Windows Firewall dialog box appears. You should always keep Windows Firewall
on, unless you have your own firewall software that you want to use.
You can change how the firewall works by changing some of its settings, however.
Refer to Figure 9-22 for more information on these settings.
Windows Firewall has been

added to help keep your
computer more secure. It is
turned on by default.
Quick
Reference
Windows Firewall:
This security utility keeps
your computer secure by
restricting the information
that comes into your
computer.
To Open Windows
Firewall:
and select Control Panel
from the menu.
2. Click the Security Center
category.
3. Click Windows Firewall.
256
Lesson 9-14: Introduction to

E-mail
Figure 9-23
Microsoft Outlook Express
is the e-mail program that
is included with Windows
XP.
Figure 9-24
Outlook Express toolbar.
Toolbar
E-mail folders:
see Table 9-4:
E-mail Folders
for their
descriptions.
Click the task

you want to
perform here.
Figure 9-25
An Internet e-mail address
has two parts: a user
name and a domain
name, separated by the @
symbol.
Figure 9-23
Compose a new
E-mail message.
Figure 9-24
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Outlook Express has
undergone improvements in
its security settings, including
some security features that
also appear in Outlook 2003.
Sends messages youve

composed, and downloads
new messages.
Opens the
address book.
Finds people,
messages, or
text.
JaneDoe@zipcorp.com
User Name
This is the name of
the persons e-mail
account. It is
similar to the
persons name on
an envelope.
Domain Name
This is the location
of the persons
account on the
Internet. It is similar
to the address on
an envelope.
Figure 9-25
Do you really need an introduction to e-mail? You already know that you can use e-mail to
send messages to the staff at the office or to people all over the world. You probably also
know that e-mail is fast (almost instantaneous) and economical (many e-mail accounts are
completely free!).
Just like you need to know a persons street address if you want to send them a letter, you
need to know a persons e-mail address to send that person an e-mail message. Figure 9-25 is
an example of what a typical e-mail address looks like.
Windows XP comes with an e-mail program called Outlook Express. Outlook Express is a
stripped-down version of Microsofts full-featured e-mail program Outlook, which comes
with Microsoft Office. Outlook Express allows you compose, send, and receive e-mail
messages over the Internet. The remainder of the lessons in this chapter will show you how to
accomplish these tasks.
Move on to the one and only step in this lesson and well take a quick look at Outlook
Express before we move on and learn how to compose, send, and receive e-mail.
1.
257
Click the Start button. Select All Programs Outlook Express from
the menu.
The main screen of Outlook Express appears, as shown in Figure 9-25. Notice the
folders in the left pane of Outlook Express? These folders categorize your messages
and work just like the In and Out boxes youve seen at the office. Table 9-4: E-mail
Folders describes each of these folders.
NOTE: The first time you open Outlook Express, you will have to set up your
account, such as user name, send and receive server types, e-mail address, and
so on.
Although well be working in Microsoft Outlook Express throughout the remaining lessons in
this chapter, Outlook Express is by no means the only program you can use to send and
receive e-mail. There are many, many different e-mail programs available, such as
GroupWise, Lotus Notes, and even America Online that can also send and receive e-mail. In
fact, if youre connected to the Internet and have a Web browser, you dont even need an email program at all to send and receive e-mailyou can do it right from the Web!
Many people prefer to

use Web-based e-mail,
such as Hotmail, since
you can use it on any
computer that has a
connection to the
Internet.
Web based e-mail is usually free, and it allows you to compose, send, and receive e-mail
using a Web page instead of an e-mail program. Many people actually prefer using Web-based
e-mail instead of an e-mail program because its free and can be accessed anywhere there is a
computer with an Internet connection. Hotmail, owned by Microsoft (who else?), is the
largest Web-based e-mail program in the world.
Table 9-4: E-mail Folders
Folder
Inbox
Outbox
Sent Items
Deleted Items
Drafts
Description
Stores the messages youve received.
Temporarily stores any messages that youve composed but have not been
sent.
Stores copies of messages you have sent.
Stores messages that youve deleted.
Stores draft messages that you havent completed yet.
Quick Reference
To Start Outlook Express:
and select All Programs
Outlook Express
from the menu.
258
Lesson 9-15: Composing and

Sending E-mail
Figure 9-26
To: Enter the recipient(s) of the message.
The New Message

window.
Cc: Send a copy of the message to these recipients.
Figure 9-27
Subject: Enter the subject of the message.
The New Message

toolbar.
Formatting Toolbar: Use to apply font and paragraph

formatting to your message, and to insert lines, pictures,
and hyperlinks to Web pages.
Body: Type your e-mail message here, as you
would using a word processor.
Figure 9-26
Send the
message to
the Outbox Cut
Figure 9-27
Check names
for errors
Paste
Copy
Undo
Spell
check
Attach a
file
Set as a
priority
Encrypt
message
Digitally sign
message
Work
offline
Heres a brief explanation of how to compose and send an e-mail message:
1.
Create Mail
button
Other Ways to Compose
a Message:
Select Compose
New Message from the
menu.
2.
3.
Press <Ctrl> + <N>.
4.
To: button
Click the Start button and select All Programs Outlook Express
from the menu.
The Outlook Express program window appears.
Click the Create Mail button on the Outlook Express toolbar.
The New Message window appears, ready for you to write your e-mail message. The
first thing to do is to specify the recipients e-mail address in the To: field.
You can either type this address in the To: box, or you can click the Select Recipients
from a list button that appears immediately to the left of the To: box.
Type the recipients e-mail address in the To: field.
If you need to send a message to more than one person, simply enter all the recipients
e-mail addresses, making sure you separate them with a comma (,) like this:
JohnWilson@acme.com, BettyT@yahoo.com.
Skip to Step 7 when youre finished.
If the address is in your Address Book, click the To: button.
The Select Recipients dialog box appears.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
259
Double-click the name of the recipient in the Name list.

Repeat this step to add more than one recipient from the Name list.
Click OK.
The Select Recipients dialog box closes and the recipient(s) appear in the To: field.
(Optional) To send a copy of a message to someone, click in the Cc: field
and enter their e-mail address(es).
You can type their name in the field or click the Cc: button to select a name from the
Address Book.
So what is (Cc) and (Bcc)? Table 9-5: Ways to Address an E-mail Message gives a
description of each of these ways to send a message.
Next, enter the subject of the message so your recipient(s) will know what the message
is about. The subject will appear in the heading of the message in the recipients inbox.
Click the Subject field and enter a subject for the e-mail.
Now youre ready to type the actual e-mail message.
Click the pointer in the body of the message then type the message as
you would in a word processor.
Keep in mind that all the generic Windows program commands youve learnedsuch
as cutting, copying, pasting, and formatting textwill work in Outlook Express.
10. (Optional) To check the spelling of your message, select Tools

Spelling from the menu.
Outlook Express checks the spelling in your message, flags each word it cant find in
its dictionary, and suggests an alternate word. To replace an unknown word with a
suggestion, select the suggestion in the Change To list and click the Change button. To
ignore a word the spell checker doesnt recognize, such as the name of a city, click
Ignore All.
11. (Optional) To send a file or picture along with your message, click the
Attach button on the toolbar and select the file in the Insert Attachment
dialog box.
12. When youre finished with the message, click the Send button on the
toolbar.
The message is sent to the Outbox folder, and will be sent the next time you click the
Send and Receive button.
13. Click the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook toolbar.
Outlook sends all the messages that are stored in the Outbox folder and retrieves any
new e-mail messages it finds on the e-mail server.
Table 9-5: Ways to Address an E-mail Message
Address
Description
To
Sends the message to the recipient you specify (required).
Carbon Copy (Cc)
Sends a copy of the message to a recipient who is not directly involved,

but would be interested in the message.
Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc)
Sends a copy of the message to a recipient without anyone else

knowing that they received the message.
Attach button
Send and Receive

button
Quick Reference
To Compose a Message:
1. Open Outlook Express.
2. Click the Create Mail
button on the Outlook
Express toolbar.
3. Type the recipients
address in the To: field.
Or
Click the To: button, click
the name of the recipient
in the Name list, then
double-click the name.
Click OK when youre
finished.
4. Click the Subject field
and enter the messages
subject.
5. Click the pointer in the
lower pane and type the
message.
6. (Optional) Check the
spelling of your message
by selecting Tools
7. (Optional) Attach a file to
the message by clicking
the Attach button on the
toolbar and then selecting
the file in the Insert
Attachment dialog box.
8. Click the Send button on
the toolbar to send the
message.
260
Lesson 9-16: Adding a Name to

the Address Book
Figure 9-28
The Address Book
window.
Add to
To: list
Figure 9-29
Add to
Cc: list
The Select Recipients

dialog box.
Add to
Bcc: list
Figure 9-30
The Properties dialog box.
Figure 9-28
Figure 9-29
Select the recipient(s)
Figure 9-30
Address Book
button
Other Ways to Open the
Address Book:
Press <Ctrl> + <Shift>
+ .
Unless you only write to two or three people, its almost impossible to memorize the e-mail
addresses of everyone you correspond with, especially when they have e-mail addresses that
look something like brad.james.traindept@gold.tc.umn.edu. Fortunately, if you use the
Windows Address Book, you dont have to. Simply enter the names and e-mail addresses to
whom you regularly send messages, and youll never have to remember another obscure email address again.
1.
2.
If necessary, open Outlook Express.

Click the Address Book button on the Outlook Express toolbar.
The Address Book window appears, as shown in Figure 9-28. Two types of items
appear in the Windows Address Book:
Contacts: Contacts are the individual recipients in your Address Book.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
261
Groups: A group allows you to send messages to a group of recipients.
Click the New button in the Address Book toolbar. Select New Contact
from the list.
The Properties dialog box appears with the Name tab in front, as shown in Figure 9-30.
Type the recipients first and last name in the appropriate fields.
New Contact
button
Enter the recipients name in the Display box, then enter the e-mail
address.
You can also use the other tabs in the Properties dialog box to add additional
informationsuch as phone numbers and addressesabout the recipient.
Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
You return to the Address Book window, where the new contact appears.
Click the Address Book window Close button to close it.
Quick Reference
To Add a Name to the
Address Book:
1. Click the Address Book
button on the Outlook
Express toolbar.
2. Click the New button on
the Address Book toolbar
and select New Contact
from the drop-down list.
3. Type the recipients first
and last name and enter
the recipients e-mail
address.
4. To add additional
information about the
contact, click on other
tabs in the Properties
dialog box.
5. Click OK, then close the
Address Book.
262
Lesson 9-17: Receiving E-mail

Figure 9-31
This area displays the
messages in the highlighted
folder. Click or double-click
the message you want to
read.
Outlook Expresss Inbox

folder.
Figure 9-32
Messages that have not

been opened appear in bold
and have a closed envelope
( ). A paper clip ( )
indicates an attached
message.
Outlook Expresss Inbox

toolbar.
The contents of the selected

message appear in this area.
Windows XP
Service Pack 2
Outlook Express has added
some security settings that
effect how you view
messages:
E-mails can now be read in
plain-text format instead of
HTML. This prevents some
security issues that can occur
with HTML messages.
Images in HTML messages
are blocked. This prevents
Spammers from knowing if
your address is valid. This is
also more convenient for dialup users.
Figure 9-31
Compose a new
E-mail message.
Reply to all the recipients

Print a message.
of a message.
Reply to the author

of a message.
Forward a message
to someone else.
Send or receive a
message.
Delete the
message.
Find a contact
or message.
Open the
address book.
Figure 9-32
Inbox folder
This lesson explains how to receive and read your e-mail messages with Outlook Express.
Youll find its a lot easier to retrieve and read e-mail messages than it is to sort through and
read postal mailno envelopes to rip open, no scribbled handwriting to decipher, no junk
mail to go through well thats not quite true. Unfortunately, the online world is plagued
with junk mail, called Spam, just like the postal world. Oh well.
1.
2.
3.
Send and Receive

button
Other Ways to Send and
Receive Messages:
Press <Ctrl> + <M>.
If necessary, open Outlook Express.

Click the Inbox folder in the left pane of the Outlook Express window.
The contents of the Inbox folder appear in the upper-right pane of the Outlook Express
window, as shown in Figure 9-31. Lets check and see if you have any new e-mail.
Click the Send and Receive button on the Outlook Express toolbar.
Normally, Outlook Express automatically checks your mail server for new messages
every 30 minutes. If it finds any new messages on your mail server, it downloads them
and saves them to your computer. You can force Outlook to check for new messages by
clicking the Send and Receive button. If you connect to the Internet with a modem
connection, Outlook Express will automatically dial out and connect to the Internet to
establish a connection with your mail server.
4.
5.
6.
263
Your new messages are saved in the Inbox folder. Any new, unread messages appear in
bold and have a closed envelope icon ( ) next to them. Heres how to open and read a
message.
Click the message you want to read.
The contents of the message appear in the lower-right pane of Outlook Express, and the
From and Subject information appear at the top of this pane. You can also open a
message its own windowthis is especially helpful when you want to read a long
message. Simply double-click the message you want to read. The message appears in
its own window. You can close the messages window when youre finished reading it
by clicking the windows close button.
If a message has one or more files attached to it, a paper clip will also appear in this
area. If a message contains an attachment, go to Step 5 to open it. If not, skip ahead to
Step 6.
(Optional) To open files attached to a message, click the paper clip icon
and select the file from the list.
Sometimes youll want to print a copy of a message. Heres how to do it:
(Optional) To print a message, click the Print button on the toolbar. Click
OK to print the message.
Paper Clip
Print button
Other Ways to Print:
Select File Print
from the menu.
Press <Ctrl> + .
Quick Reference
To Receive and Read
E-mail Messages:
1. Start Outlook Express
and click the Inbox folder.
2. Click the Send and
Receive All button on
the Outlook Express
toolbar.
3. Click or double-click the
message you want to
read.
To Open an Attached File:
Follow the above steps to
read the message, then
click the paper clip icon,
and then click the file you
want to open from the list
that appears from the
paper clip.
To Print a Message:
Click the Print button.
Or
Select File Print from
the menu.
Or
Press <Ctrl>+ .
264
Lesson 9-18: Replying to a

Message
Figure 9-33
You can reply to a
message.
Outlook Express fills in the

address and subject fields
for you.
Type your reply here.
A copy of the original

message is included to
help the reader know
which message you are
replying to.
Figure 9-33
You can reply to a message, just like you would answer a letter. This lesson explains how to
do it.
Reply to All
button
1.
Reply to Author
button
2.
3.
Quick Reference
To Reply to a Message:
1. Find and open the
message you want to
reply to.
2. Click the reply option you
want to use: Reply to
Author or Reply to All.
3. Type your reply and click
the Send button on the
toolbar when youre
finished.
Find and open the message you want to reply to.

You learned how to open and read messages in the previous lesson. Next, you need to
decide who you want to respond to. You have two choices:
Reply to Author: Sends the reply only to the author of the message.
Reply to All: Sends the reply to everyone who received the message.
Click the reply option you want to use: Reply to Author or Reply to All.
A window appears where you can type your reply.
Type your reply and click the Send button on the toolbar when youre
finished.
You can use special characters to express emotion in your e-mail messages, in chat rooms, or
elsewhere on the Internet. Table 9-6: Expressing Emotion in Your Messages has some of the
more common ones. Some of them resemble a face if you turn them sideways.
Table 9-6: Expressing Emotion in Your Messages
Abbreviation
Description
Abbreviation
Description
: ) or : - )
Smile
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
: ( or : - (
Frown
IMHO
In my humble opinion
; ) or ; - )
Wink
LOL
Laughing out loud
: )~ or : - )~
Sticking tongue out
ROTFL
Rolling on the floor laughing
: O or : - O
Surprise
FWD
Forwarded message
265
Lesson 9-19: Forwarding and

Deleting a Message
Figure 9-34
Type the e-mail address of the

recipient you want to receive the
forwarded message.
You can forward a

message.
Type any comments you want to

add to the message here.
The original message appears

here.
Figure 9-34
After youve read a message, you can add your own comments and forward it, or pass it
along, to someone else. Besides the typical business correspondence, many people especially
like to forward e-mails that contain jokes or words of wisdom.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Forward button
Find and open the message you want to forward.

Click the Forward button on the toolbar.
A window appears with the message you are forwarding. You need to specify to whom
you want to send, or forward, the message.
Type the recipients e-mail address in the To: field or use the Address
Book to enter the recipients address.
You can also add your own comments about the message you are forwarding.
(Optional) To add your own comments to the message, click the message
body area and type your comments.
Youre ready to send the forwarded message.
Click the Send button on the toolbar to forward the message.
Remember that clicking Send normally only sends it to the Outbox folder. Youll have
to click the Send and Receive button to actually send the message.
When you no longer need a message, you can delete it to prevent your Inbox folder
from becoming cluttered with dozens of messages. Deleting a message is very, very
easy. Heres how to do it:
Select the message you want to delete and press the <Delete> key.
The message is removed from the current folder and is placed in the Deleted Items
folder.
Quick Reference
To Forward a Message:
1. Find and select the
message you want to
forward and click the
Forward Message
button on the toolbar.
2. Enter the recipients email address in the To:
field.
3. (Optional) Enter your own
comments in the
message body area.
4. Click the Send button on
the toolbar.
To Delete a Message:
Select the message you
want to delete and press
the <Delete> key.
266
Chapter Nine Review

Lesson Summary
Introduction to the Internet
The Internet is the largest computer network in the world, with millions of computers all over the
world connected to each other.
Web pages are stored on Web servers, which are always connected to the Internet so that people
can view their Web pages 24 hours a day.
Some of things you can do using Internet include sending and receiving e-mail, browsing the World
Wide Web, posting and reading newsgroup messages, chatting with other Internet users, and
downloading software.
Connecting to the Internet
To connect to the Internet you need an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a Web browser program,
and a phone line and modem or other connection to the Internet.
To Connect to the Internet: Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer from the menu or
click the Internet Explorer icon on the Quick Launch bar. Select Tools Internet Options from
the menu then click the Connections tab. Click Setup and click Next, Next. Select an option for
how you want to connect to the Internet (usually manually) and click Next. Follow the remaining
on-screen instructions, entering a name for the Internet connection, your user name, and password
if prompted.
Displaying a Specific Web Page
To Display a Specific Web Page: Type the Web address in the Address bar and press <Enter>.
Or, press <Ctrl> + <L>, type the Web address, and click OK.
Sometimes a Web page may not be available for viewing. This can be caused by a Web server
being down where the Web page is stored, by Internet congestion, or by the Web page no longer
existing. Try returning to the Web page later.
Browsing the Web
A hyperlink is a link to another Web page or file. The pointer changes to a

positioned over a hyperlink.
To Use a Hyperlink: Click the hyperlink with the
To Go Back to the Previous Page: Click the Back button on the toolbar.
To Stop the Transfer of Information: Click the Stop button on the toolbar.
To Refresh a Web Page: Click the Refresh button on the toolbar.
To Return to a Web Address you Typed in the Address Bar: Click the Address bar list arrow
and select the Web address.
whenever it is
pointer.
267
Searching the Web
To Search the Web for Information Using Internet Explorer: Click the Search button on the
toolbar, type the word or phrase you want to search for in the Search the Web for box and click
Search, then click the link for the Web page you want to look at. Click the Search button on the
toolbar to close the search panel.
To Search the Web for Information Using a Search Engine: Type the Web address for the
search engine in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Type the word or phrase you want to search
for in the Web pages Search box and press <Enter>.
Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing your Home Page
To Add a Web Page to Your List of Favorites: Go to the Web page, select Favorites Add to
Favorites from the menu and click OK, or right-click anywhere on the Web page and select Add to
Favorites from the shortcut menu.
To Go To a Favorite Web Page: Click the Favorites button on the toolbar and select the Web
page from the left side of Internet Explorer, then click the Favorites button when youre finished.
You can also go to a favorite Web page by selecting Favorites from the menu bar and selecting
the Web page.
To Change Your Home Page: Go to the Web page, select Tools Internet Options from the
menu and click the Use Current button.
To Organize Your Favorites: Select Favorites Organize Favorites from the menu.
Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages
Click the History button on the toolbar and click the day or week you viewed the Web page. Click
the Web site you want to revisit and then the specific Web page. Click the History button on the
toolbar when youve finished.
Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages
Select Tools Internet Options from the menu. Click the Clear History button, click Yes to
confirm the deletion and click OK.
Saving Pictures and Files to Disk (Downloading)
To Download an Image: Right-click the image you want to save and select Save Picture As from
the shortcut menu, navigate to the drive and folder when you want to save the image, give the
image a different name if you want, and click Save.
To Download a File: Right-click the file you want to download, select Save Target As from the
shortcut menu, navigate to the drive and folder when you want to save the file, give the file a
different name if you want, and click Save.
Many programs and files on the Internet are stored in compressed ZIP files and need to be
unpacked using a program called WinZip.
Understanding the Information Bar
The Information Bar notifies you when a security action has taken place.
To Use the Information Bar: Click the Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut
menu.
268
Using the Pop-up Blocker
To Change Pop-up Blocker Settings: Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Pop-up Blocker
Settings from the menu and change the Pop-up Blocker settings in the dialog box. Or, click the
Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut menu.
To Turn Off the Pop-up Blocker: Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Turn Off Pop-up Blocker
from the menu.
Understanding Information Security
Information security is the practice of protecting your computer from intruders. Here are some
security precautions that help protect your sensitive information. Install anti-virus software; Update
anti-virus software; Update software; Use firewalls; Be smart with e-mail
Understanding Windows Firewall
This security utility keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that comes into your
computer.
To Open Windows Firewall: Click the Start button and select Control Panel. Click the Security
Center icon and click the Windows Firewall icon.
Introduction to E-mail
To Start Outlook Express: Click the Start button. Select All Programs Outlook Express
from the menu.
Composing and Sending E-mail
To Compose a Message: Start Outlook Express, click the Create Mail button on the Outlook
Express toolbar, type the recipients address in the To: field or click the To: button to the left of the
To: field and double-click the name. Click OK when youre finished. Click the Subject field and
enter the messages subject. Click the pointer in the lower pane and type the message. Click the
Send button on the toolbar to send the message.
To Check a Message for Spelling Errors: Before you send the message, select Tools
To Attach a File to a Message: Before you send the message click the Attach button on the
toolbar and then select the file in the Insert Attachment dialog box.
You can address a message using To which sends the message to the recipient you specify
(required), Carbon Copy (Cc) which sends a copy of the message to a recipient who is not directly
involved, but would be interested in the message, and Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) which sends a
copy of the message to a recipient without anyone else knowing that they received the message.
Adding a Name to the Address Book
To Add a Name to the Address Book: Click the Address Book button on the Outlook Express
toolbar, and click the New button on the Address Book toolbar and select New Contact from the
drop-down list. Type the recipients first and last name in the appropriate fields and enter the
recipients display name and e-mail address. To add additional information about the contact, click
on other tabs in the Properties dialog box. Click OK, and then close the Address Book.
269
Receiving E-mail
Outlook Express checks your mail server for new messages automatically, but you can also check
for new messages by clicking the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook Express toolbar.
To Receive and Read E-mail Messages: Start Outlook Express and click the Inbox folder, click
the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook Express toolbar, and click or double-click the
message you want to read.
To Open an Attached File: Follow the above steps to read the message, then click the paper clip
icon and then click the file you want to open from the list that appears from the paper clip.
To Print a Message: Click the Print button, or select File Print from the menu, or press
<Ctrl>+ .
Replying to a Message
To Reply to a Message: Find and open the message you want to reply to, click the reply option
you want to use: Reply to Author or Reply to All. Type your reply and click the Send button on
the toolbar when youre finished.
Forwarding a Message
To Forward a Message: Find and select the message you want to forward and click the
Forward Message button on the toolbar, enter the recipients e-mail address in the To: field, enter
your own comments in the message body area, and click the
Send button on the toolbar.
To Delete a Message: Select the message you want to delete and press the <Delete> key.
Quiz
1. A Web server is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
The worlds largest supercomputer that contains and runs the Internet.
A computer that stores Web pages and that is always connected to the Internet.
A computer that acts as a gateway between your office network and the Internet.
A waiter at a restaurant for spiders.
2. A Home page is the first Web page you see when you connect to the
Internet. (True or False?)
3. Which button on Internet Explorers toolbar brings you back to the page
you last viewed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Home
Stop
Refresh
Back
4. What can you do to keep your computer secure?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Install and update anti-virus software.

Use a firewall.
Avoid suspicious e-mail messages.
All of the above.
270
A.
B.
C.
D.
Internet Explorer keeps a history of visited Web pages for 20 days.

A search engine lets you search for Web pages by topic.
Eudora is an e-mail program that comes with Windows XP.
You can download and save images from a Web page onto your computer.
6. When youve finished writing a letter in Outlook Express, clicking the Send
button on the toolbar will instantly send the message to its destination.
(True or False?)
A. When you reply to a message, Outlook Express includes the content of the original
message to make it easy for the recipient to know which message youre replying to.
B. E-mail messages can contain files, such as pictures and word processing documents
called attachments.
C. You can send anonymous e-mail using the Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) field.
D. You can save a list of Web pages you visit frequently in Internet Explorers Favorites
list.
8. What is a firewall?
A. A security device that keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that
comes into your computer.
B. What you put around your cubicle after doing something wrong.
C. There is no such thing.
D. A fire prevention tactic used by firefighters.
Homework
1. Get a connection to the Internet.
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. Go to the Yahoo Web site (www.yahoo.com).
4. Search the Internet for information on Russia.
5. Spend at least 30 minutes browsing the Web on whatever topics you want.
Quiz Answers
1. B. A Web server is a computer that holds Web pages and is connected to the Internet 24
hours a day so that people can view those Web pages.
2. True.
3. C. The Back button returns you to the Web page you just left.
4. D. You should install and update anti-virus software, use a firewall, and avoid suspicious
e-mail messages to keep your computer secure.
5. C. Eudora is a popular e-mail program, but it doesnt come with Windows XP: Outlook
Express does.
271
6. False. This was a tricky questionwhen you click the Send button, you save the message
to the Inbox folder. To send any messages that are in the Inbox, click the Send and
Receive button on the toolbar.
7. C. Adding a recipient to the Blind Carbon Copy field allows them to receive a message
without seeing who else received the message.
8. A. A firewall is a device that keeps your computer secure by restricting the information
that comes into your computer. Windows has been updated with a Firewall in Service
Pack 2.
274
Index
Index
average access time, hard drive ............. 65
1
16-bit color.............................................55
2
24-bit color.............................................55
286 processor .........................................39
3
32-bit color.............................................55
386 processor .........................................39
3D graphics card ....................................54
4
486 processor .........................................39
8
8088 processor .......................................39
A
Access, Microsoft ..................................88
accounting software ...............................91
AccuPoint pointing device .....................51
adding
names to address book .....................260
Address Bar, Internet Explorer ............241
address book
adding names ...................................260
selecting names from .......................258
AGP .......................................................23
Alt + Tab key combination...................148
alt key.....................................................46
Alt key .................................................131
application program ...............................83
arrow keys ......................................47, 131
ASP ........................................................95
assembly language .................................94
Athlon processor ....................................38
attaching file, e-mail ............................259
B
back up
hard drive ........................................... 67
tape drive ........................................... 74
backspace key ........................................ 47
Backspace key ............................. 131, 163
BASIC ................................................... 95
battery life, laptop .................................. 30
bit ........................................................... 41
blind carbon copies (Bcc) .................... 259
bold ...................................................... 172
broadband modem ......................... 62, 110
browsing
contents of your computer ....... 194, 196
help .................................................. 176
Web pages ........................................ 242
buffer, printer ......................................... 56
bus speed................................................ 22
bus width................................................ 22
buttons, toolbar .................................... 156
buying a computer ................................. 28
buying a notebook.................................. 30
byte ................................................ 41, 193
C
C drive ................................................. 192
C, C++ ................................................... 95
cable modem .................................. 62, 110
cache, memory ....................................... 24
camera, digital........................................ 48
carbon copies (Cc) ............................... 259
cartridges, printer ................................... 56
case, computer ....................................... 16
CD command (DOS) ........................... 223
CD-R ...................................................... 69
CD-ROM ....................................... 69, 193
CD-ROM drive ................................ 17, 68
CD-RW .................................................. 69
Index
Celeron processor .................................. 38

center alignment .................................. 175
Central Processing Unit ...............See CPU
check boxes ......................................... 158
clicking ................................................ 124
client/server network ........................... 105
clipboard .............................................. 171
closing a window ................................. 144
COBOL.................................................. 95
color
graphics card ...................................... 54
InkJet printer ...................................... 58
laser printer ........................................ 59
color depth ............................................. 54
color laser printer ................................... 59
COM port............................................... 21
combo boxes ........................................ 158
CompactFlash ........................................ 48
composing e-mail ................................ 258
compression ........................................... 67
computer
back of ............................................... 20
buying ................................................ 28
inside of ............................................. 18
laptop ................................................. 15
Macintosh .......................................... 15
mainframe .......................................... 15
networked .......................................... 15
overview ............................................ 14
pc 15
PDA ................................................... 15
performance ....................................... 26
ports ................................................... 20
server ................................................. 15
speed .................................................. 26
upgrading ........................................... 32
computer case ........................................ 16
computer, viewing contents of ............. 194
Copy command .................................... 170
COPY command (DOS) ...................... 223
copying
files .................................................. 204
folders .............................................. 200
text and information ......................... 170
cpu ......................................................... 26
CPU ................................................. 18, 38
upgrading ........................................... 33
CRT ....................................................... 52
ctrl key ................................................... 46
Ctrl key ................................................ 131
Cut command ....................................... 170
cutting
files .................................................. 204
275
folders .............................................. 200

text and information ........................ 170
D
database ................................................. 88
date
finding file by .................................. 214
sort files by ...................................... 210
sorting files by ................................. 210
DEL Command (DOS) ........................ 223
delete key............................................... 47
Delete key .................................... 131, 163
deleting
e-mail ............................................... 265
files .................................................. 202
folders .............................................. 200
Recyle Bin ....................................... 206
text ................................................... 162
delsecting files ..................................... 212
Details view ......................................... 210
dialog boxes ......................................... 158
combo boxes .................................... 158
list boxes .......................................... 158
text boxes ......................................... 158
digital camera ........................................ 48
digital modem ................................ 62, 110
DIR command (DOS) .......................... 223
DOS commands ................................... 223
DOS prompt ........................................ 222
dot matrix printer ................................... 59
dot pitch, monitor .................................. 52
double-clicking .................................... 124
downloading files ................................ 250
dragging and dropping ......................... 126
resizing a window ............................ 146
window to new position ................... 145
drivers
downloading from Internet .............. 250
drives
types of ............................................ 192
DSL modem................................... 62, 110
Duron processor .................................... 38
DVD drive ....................................... 17, 70
DVD+R ................................................. 71
DVD+RW .............................................. 71
DVD-R .................................................. 70
DVD-RAM ............................................ 71
DVD-ROM ............................................ 70
DVD-RW ............................................... 71
E
editing text ........................................... 162
e-mail
276
Index
address book, adding names.............260

address, overview .............................256
attaching files to ...............................259
composing ........................................258
deleting.............................................265
forwarding ........................................265
hotmail .............................................256
introduction to ..................................256
printing .............................................263
receiving and reading .......................262
replying ............................................264
sending .............................................258
using Outlook Express .....................256
emotion, displaying in e-mail...............264
emptying Recycle Bin ..........................206
End key ..........................................47, 131
Energy Star compliance .........................53
enter key.................................................47
Enter key ..............................................131
ergonomic keyboard...............................46
esc key ...................................................46
Esc key .................................................131
Ethernet port ..........................................21
Excel, Microsoft .....................................87
Excite ...................................................245
Exiting Windows XP............................132
expansion card .......................................18
expansion slot ..................................18, 22
Explorer
dragging and dropping in .................220
Extranet ................................................108
F
F1 key ....................................46, 131, 176
Favorites Web pages ............................246
file extensions ......................................208
file management ...................................192
files
copying.............................................204
deleting.............................................202
displaying details .............................210
extensions.........................................208
finding ..............................................214
moving .............................................204
naming .............................................164
opening.....................................164, 202
printing .............................................169
renaming ..........................................202
rules for naming ...............................164
saving ...............................................164
saving in different formats and
locations .......................................180
selecting multiple .............................212
sorting ..............................................210
types of ............................................ 208

finding
files .................................................. 214
help .................................................. 178
information on the Web.................... 244
firewall ................................................. 108
Firewire port .......................................... 21
flash cards .............................................. 74
flat panel monitor ................................... 52
floppy disk
displaying properties of ................... 194
formatting .......................................... 75
viewing contents of .......................... 194
floppy disk ........................................... 192
floppy disks
description of ..................................... 72
floppy drive ...................................... 16, 72
folder path ............................................ 208
folders
copying ............................................ 200
creating ............................................ 198
deleting ............................................ 200
moving ............................................. 200
opening ............................................ 196
renaming .......................................... 198
root folder ........................................ 197
selecting multiple ............................. 212
fonts
changing type and size ..................... 172
using bold, italics, and underlining .. 174
formatting text
font size............................................ 172
font type ........................................... 172
paragraph alignment ........................ 175
using bold, italics, and underlining .. 174
formatting, floppy disk .......................... 75
FORTRAN ............................................. 95
forwarding e-mail ................................ 265
fragmentation ......................................... 67
G
game port ............................................... 21
gb ........................................................... 41
GHz........................................................ 38
gigabyte ................................................. 41
gigahertz ................................................ 38
graphical user interface .......................... 82
graphics card .......................................... 26
grapics card ............................................ 54
GUI ........................................................ 82
H
hard disk .............................................. 192
upgrading ........................................... 33
Index
viewing contents of .......................... 194

hard drive ............................................... 17
back up............................................... 67
compression ....................................... 67
external .............................................. 64
fragmentation ............................... 27, 67
free space ........................................... 27
internal ............................................... 64
maintenance ....................................... 66
repair .................................................. 67
speed .................................................. 27
hardware ................................................ 12
help
Contents tab ..................................... 176
Index tab .......................................... 178
Search tab ........................................ 178
Help
F1 key .............................................. 131
highlighting text ................................... 166
history of viewed Web pages ............... 248
home key ............................................... 47
Home key............................................. 131
home page, changing ........................... 247
hotmail ................................................. 256
HTML .................................................... 95
hub, network ........................................ 105
hyperlink .............................................. 242
I
IDE ........................................................ 64
images, saving from Web pages........... 250
information security ............................. 254
information technology (IT) .................. 12
ink, printer ............................................. 56
InkJet printer .......................................... 58
input ....................................................... 14
input device
AccuPoint pointing device ................. 51
joystick .............................................. 51
keyboard ............................................ 46
light pen ............................................. 51
microphone ........................................ 51
mouse ................................................. 44
scanner ............................................... 51
touch pad ........................................... 51
trackball ............................................. 51
input devices
keyboard ............................................ 17
mouse ................................................. 17
scanner ............................................... 17
input/output device ................................ 63
insertion point ...................................... 162
Internet
277
connecting to ................................... 238

introduction to ......................... 106, 236
Internet Service Provider ..................... 238
Intranet ................................................ 108
Iomega ................................................... 73
ISA ........................................................ 23
ISDN modem ................................. 62, 110
ISP ...............See Internet Service Provider
IT 12
J
Java ........................................................ 95
JavaScript .............................................. 95
Jaz drive................................................. 73
joystick .................................................. 51
joystick port ........................................... 21
JSP ......................................................... 95
K
kb ........................................................... 41
keyboard .................................. 17, 46, 130
keyboard combinations ........................ 130
keyboard port ......................................... 21
kilobyte .......................................... 41, 193
kilobyte (K or KB) .............................. 193
L
LAN ..................................................... 105
laptop ..................................................... 15
laptop, buying ........................................ 30
Large Icons view ................................. 210
laser printer ............................................ 59
LCD monitor ......................................... 52
left align............................................... 174
left mouse button ................................. 124
light pen ................................................. 51
line in jack ............................................. 21
Linux ..................................................... 84
list boxes .............................................. 158
List view .............................................. 210
Look in list........................................... 164
LPT port ................................................ 21
LS-120 SuperDrive ................................ 74
M
Mac OS X .............................................. 84
machine language .................................. 94
Macintosh .............................................. 15
mainframe .............................................. 15
maximizing a window ......................... 140
mb .......................................................... 41
MD command (DOS) .......................... 223
278
Index
megabyte ................................................41
megabyte (MB) ....................................193
megahertz ...............................................38
megapixel ...............................................48
memory ............................................18, 26
cards ...................................................48
compared to ROM..............................42
graphics card ......................................54
measuring ...........................................40
printer .................................................56
upgrading ...........................................33
memory cache ........................................24
Memory Stick ........................................48
menu ....................................................154
MHz .......................................................38
microphone ......................................51, 60
microphone jack .....................................21
mimimizing a window .........................140
modem ........................................... 62, 110
modem port ............................................21
monitor .............................................17, 52
monitor port ...........................................21
motherboard ...........................................18
mouse .......................................17, 44, 124
clicking.............................................124
double-clicking ................................124
dragging and dropping .....................126
left mouse button..............................124
pointing ............................................124
right mouse button ...........................128
right-clicking ....................................128
mouse port .............................................21
moving
files ..................................................204
folders ..............................................200
window ............................................145
MP3 file .................................................60
MS-DOS ................................................84
MS-DOS commands ............................223
MS-DOS prompt ..................................222
multifunction printer ..............................59
multitasking ...........................................27
My Computer .......................................194
My Computer .......................................120
My Documents .....................................120
My Network Places ..............................120
N
naming files..........................................164
network port ...........................................21
networks ...............................................105
client/server network ........................105
components ......................................105
peer-to-peer network ........................105
phone lines ....................................... 110

workgroup ........................................ 105
notebook ................................................ 15
notebook, buying ................................... 30
O
opening
files .................................................. 202
files in programs .............................. 164
folders .............................................. 196
My Computer ................................... 194
operating system .............................. 83, 84
optical mouse ......................................... 44
Outlook Express
address book, adding names ............ 260
address book, selecting names ......... 258
attaching files to messages ............... 259
composing messages ........................ 258
deleting ............................................ 265
folders .............................................. 257
forwarding........................................ 265
printing............................................. 263
receiving messages .......................... 262
replying ............................................ 264
sending messages ............................. 258
starting ............................................. 256
output ..................................................... 14
output device
graphics card ...................................... 54
monitor ............................................... 52
printer........................................... 56, 58
sound card .......................................... 60
output devices
monitor ............................................... 17
printer................................................. 17
speakers ............................................. 17
P
page down key ....................................... 47
Page Down key .................................... 131
page up key ............................................ 47
Page Up key ......................................... 131
Palm OS ................................................. 84
PalmPilot ............................................... 15
palmtop .................................................. 15
paragraph alignment ............................ 175
parallel port ............................................ 21
Paste command .................................... 170
pasting
files .................................................. 204
folders .............................................. 200
text and information ......................... 170
patches, downloading .......................... 250
path ...................................................... 208
Index
pc 15
PCI ......................................................... 23
PCMCIA cards....................................... 18
PDA ....................................................... 15
peer-to-peer network ............................ 105
Pentium processor.................................. 38
performance, computer .......................... 26
Perl......................................................... 95
personal computer.................................. 15
PHP ........................................................ 95
pictures
saving from Web pages .................... 250
plotter..................................................... 59
Pocket PC .............................................. 15
pointer .................................................. 124
pointing ................................................ 124
ports ....................................................... 20
COM .................................................. 21
Ethernet.............................................. 21
Firewire.............................................. 21
game .................................................. 21
IEEE 1394 ......................................... 21
joystick .............................................. 21
keyboard ............................................ 21
line in ................................................. 21
line out ............................................... 21
LPT .................................................... 21
microphone ........................................ 21
modem ............................................... 21
monitor .............................................. 21
mouse ................................................. 21
network .............................................. 21
parallel ............................................... 21
phone ................................................. 21
printer ................................................ 21
SCSI ................................................... 21
serial .................................................. 21
USB ................................................... 21
PowerPoint, Microsoft ........................... 90
presentation software ............................. 90
Print command ..................................... 169
Print Dialog box .................................. 169
printer .................................................... 17
cartridges and toner ........................... 56
color ................................................... 56
color laser .......................................... 59
dot matrix........................................... 59
grayscale ............................................ 56
InkJet ................................................. 58
laser.................................................... 59
multifunction ..................................... 59
plotter ................................................. 59
resolution ........................................... 56
279
speed .................................................. 56
printer port ............................................. 21
printing
e-mail ............................................... 263
number of copies ............................. 169
options ............................................. 169
page range........................................ 169
properties ......................................... 169
selecting printers .............................. 169
processor
286 ..................................................... 39
386 ..................................................... 39
486 ..................................................... 39
Athlon ................................................ 38
Celeron .............................................. 38
Duron ................................................. 38
Pentium .............................................. 38
programming languages ........................ 94
programs
closing ............................................. 144
maximizing ...................................... 142
minimizing....................................... 142
opening files in ................................ 164
printing from.................................... 169
restoring ........................................... 142
saving files in................................... 164
starting ............................................. 138
switching between ........................... 148
Q
QuickBooks ........................................... 91
Quicken ................................................. 91
R
RAM ................................................ 18, 26
compared to ROM ............................. 42
measuring .......................................... 40
upgrading ........................................... 33
RD command (DOS) ........................... 223
receiving e-mail ................................... 262
Recycle Bin ......................................... 120
emptying .......................................... 206
retrieving deleted files from ............ 206
refresh a Web page .............................. 243
refresh rate, monitor .............................. 52
removable drive ................................... 193
RENAME command (DOS) ................ 223
renaming
files .................................................. 202
folders .............................................. 198
repair
hard drive ........................................... 67
replacing text ....................................... 166
280
Index
reply, e-mail .........................................264

resizing a window ................................146
resolution
digital cameras ...................................48
printer .................................................56
screen .................................................54
Restart option .......................................133
restoring a window...............................140
right mouse button ...............................128
right-clicking ........................................128
ROM ......................................................42
ROM-BIOS ............................................18
root folder ............................................197
S
Save As command ................................180
saving
files in a program .............................164
images from Web pages ...................250
scanner .............................................17, 51
screen saver ............................................53
scroll bars .....................................140, 158
SCSI .......................................................64
SCSI port ...............................................21
search
Web ..................................................244
searching
for files .............................................214
help ..................................................178
selecting
multiple files and folders .................212
text ...................................................162
selecting text ........................................166
sending e-mail ......................................258
serial port ...............................................21
shortcut menus .....................................128
Shut Down options ...............................133
Shutting down Windows XP ................132
Small Icons view ..................................210
SmartMedia ............................................48
software..................................................12
accounting ..........................................91
application program ...........................83
database..............................................88
operating system ................................83
presentation ........................................90
programming languages .....................94
spreadsheet .........................................87
versions ..............................................83
Web Authoring ...................................93
Web browser ......................................92
word processing .................................86
Solitaire
dragging and dropping .....................126
sound card .............................................. 60

sound card ports ..................................... 21
speakers ........................................... 17, 60
speed, computer ..................................... 26
spooler, printer ....................................... 56
spreadsheet............................................. 87
SQL........................................................ 95
Stand by option .................................... 133
Start button........................................... 120
Start command ..................................... 138
starting
programs .......................................... 138
Status bar ............................................. 140
stop transfer of Web pages ................... 243
storage device
CD-ROM drive .................................. 68
DVD drive ......................................... 70
flash card ............................................ 74
floppy drive ........................................ 72
hard drive ........................................... 64
Jaz drive ............................................. 73
LS-120 SuperDrive ............................ 74
tape drive ........................................... 74
USB flash drive .................................. 74
Zip drive ............................................ 73
SuperDrive ............................................. 74
switching between program ................. 148
system unit ............................................. 16
systems development ............................. 96
T
tab key.................................................... 47
Tab key ................................................ 131
tape backup ............................................ 17
Task window ........................................ 148
taskbar
switching between programs............ 148
taskbar .................................................. 120
telephone port ........................................ 21
terabyte .................................................. 41
text
copying ............................................ 170
cutting .............................................. 170
deleting ............................................ 162
editing .............................................. 162
pasting .............................................. 170
replacing .......................................... 166
selecting ........................................... 166
text boxes ............................................. 158
thumbnail ............................................... 82
title bar ................................................. 140
toner, laser .............................................. 56
toolbars ................................................ 156
touch pad................................................ 51
Index
track ball ................................................ 51

turning off computer ............................ 132
U
underline .............................................. 174
Undo command ................................... 168
upgrades, software ................................. 83
upgrading a computer ............................ 32
USB flash drive ..................................... 74
USB port ................................................ 21
V
versions, software .................................. 83
video card ........................................ 26, 54
Video port .............................................. 21
virus, computer ...................................... 67
Visual Basic ........................................... 95
W
wallpaper
saving images from Web pages ........ 250
WAN .................................................... 105
Web .............................................. 106, 236
browsing .......................................... 242
downloading files ............................ 250
Favorites .......................................... 246
history of viewed Web pages ........... 248
home page, changing ....................... 247
saving images .................................. 250
search ............................................... 244
WEB
links ................................................. 242
Web address ......................................... 240
Web Authoring software ........................ 93
Web browser ........................................ 238
web cam ................................................. 48
Web server ................................... 106, 236
Web, moving to a specific Web page ... 240
window
281
closing ..................................... 140, 144

maximizing ...................................... 142
maximizing button ........................... 140
menus .............................................. 154
minimizing............................... 140, 142
moving ............................................. 145
resizing ............................................ 146
restoring ................................... 140, 142
switching between ........................... 148
Windows XP
exiting .............................................. 132
Windows, operating system ................... 84
WinZIP program .................................. 251
wireless mouse ...................................... 44
word processing ..................................... 86
Word, Microsoft .................................... 86
WordPad
cutting, copying, and pasting text .... 170
deleting text ..................................... 162
editing text ....................................... 162
entering text in ................................. 160
paragraph alignment ........................ 175
printing ............................................ 169
selecting and replacing text ............. 166
using Undo ...................................... 168
workgroup, networks ........................... 105
World Wide Web.......................... 106, 236
X
XCOPY command (DOS) ................... 223
XML ...................................................... 95
Y
Yahoo ................................................... 245
Z
Zip drive .......................................... 17, 73
zipped files .......................................... 251

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Computer Basics

2003 CustomGuide, Inc.

Lesson 7-14: Getting Help by Contents ............................................................................. 176

How to Use the Lessons

Anything youre supposed to click, drag, or press appears like this.

Anything youre supposed to type appears like this.

Illustrations show what your

Microsoft Excel 2000

Tips and traps appear in the

2003 CustomGuide, Inc.

You can also format

Important terms appear in italics the first time theyre presented.

Whenever something is especially difficult or can easily go wrong, youll see a:

2. Click cell A4 and type Annual Sales.

Anything you need to type

The numbers in this column should be formatted as currency.

3. Press <Enter> to confirm your entry and overwrite the existing

Whenever there is more than

Table 4-2: Number Formatting Buttons on the Formatting Toolbar

Or... Select the cell or cell range you

Tables provide summaries of the

CustomGuides exclusive Quick

Chapter One: The

Learn the difference between hardware and software

Discover the various types of computers and their roles

See whats on the front, back, and inside of a computer

Learn about the various ports on a computer

Understand what determines a computers performance

See what you should look for when buying a computer

Lesson 1-1: Hardware, Software,

Browse the Internet

Send e-mail messages to people around the world

Help you balance your budget

2003 CustomGuide Inc.

Chapter One: The Essentials

Your computer setup

Table 1-1: Parts of a Computer

A printer is where a computer writes down information or output, onto paper, or

Lesson 1-2: Computer Overview

2003 CustomGuide Inc.

The TV displays the channel much like a monitor displays information.

Chapter One: The Essentials

Capacity: Enormous - the capacity of several hundred or even thousands of PCs

Capacity: Average hard disk size is 20 GB to 80 GB

Capacity: Average hard disk size is 20 GB to 80 GB

Capacity: (Workstation) Same as a PC, only needs an inexpensive network card

Capacity: Average hard disk size is 10 GB to 40 GB

Lesson 1-3: The Front of a

2003 CustomGuide Inc.

Chapter One: The Essentials

CD-ROM or DVD Drive

Scanners work like photocopiers, except the image is translated into a

The monitor resembles a television set, and is where the computer

If visible, your computer speakers are similar to those on a stereo system

A printer is where a computer writes down information or output, onto

Lesson 1-4: The Inside of a

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The side view of the guts

Hard disk drive

Table 1-4: Whats Inside a Computer Case?

2003 CustomGuide Inc.

The main piece of circuitry in a computer. Everything connects to or is wired

A computers ROM-BIOS (stands for Read Only Memory Basic

Chapter One: The Essentials